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10 makeup brushes for your face - my favourites

2020-04-24T07:30:00.000+01:00

Let me start by saying you do not need all of these brushes. I'm a collector of brushes if you will. A tester. A researcher.... Ok, I'm a lunatic who went through a phase of detesting cleaning brushes and would just get more "to test" as a dirty big excuse. But you know what, I've had the last laugh because not only did I get to give a load to my friend Catherine (who has been known to use the same physical brushes to paint her face and her furniture with), but I like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to makeup brushes.

I went through my stash and picked out all of the face brushes I reach for regularly. I didn't pay attention to the brands or anything, I just selected my most commonly used ones and for those where there were duplicates, I did a spot of eenie meenie. I'd like to introduce you to 10 of my favourite face brushes and while you'll see I have them divided into sections, you can absolutely use any of these brushes in any way you'd like. You don't have to use what's described as a blush brush for that and nothing else. Play, experiment, lash all of the makeup on!

The Fuschia Jumbo Buffer is one of my all time favourite foundation brushes. The photo doesn't do it justice in terms of the size of the head. It's massive and that means it makes quick work of buffing each and every liquid foundation I use into my skin quickly. Really quickly. Like you slept it out and have 3 minutes to put a face on before running out the door quickly. I use it to buff and stipple in my foundations effortlessly and this can be used with mineral makeup too.

Another foundation favourite is the Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 and I chose the mini version to show you because it's ideal for popping in your makeup bag when you're on the go. Ah remember what it was like to be on the go... Good times. This is a flat topped brush and again, works flawlessly at buffing and stippling the foundation into the skin. And you can use it to apply tan to your hands and feet with this. So I'm told. I can't tan. I don't remember a time where I didn't have an F20 in my life and on rotation to be honest.

I love a good fluffy powder brush and the Real Techniques Powder Brush has been in my collection for years now. It's what I use most days with loose setting powders, pressed powders, bronzers and some blushes. A brush like this makes sure that you're not packing too much product on the skin if you can be a bit heavy handed. That's me. Aunt Sally. Use it to pat your powder over your makeup on certain parts of your face, or swirl it all over your face to give your skin a light dusting. You might be able to tell from the logo, or almost lack of logo, that this is well used and loved. They have new fancier ones out now, but this is like new after years of washing!

The Fuschia Pointed Dome brush is one of those really versatile brushes that I tend to use it for powder bronzer and blush mostly. The fact that it's tapered means that you only pick up a bit of product and then blend like a good thing. I can tend to apply a bit too much bronzer and blush, but this makes quick work of the blending process. It can be used for your powder too.

The Real Techniques Blush Brush is one of those staples that I've used for pretty much everything - foundation, powder, blush, bronzer, highlight. I think this might be one of the older versions, but I still reach for it all the time. The brush on the right is an old Nima duo fibre brush that I don't think they sell any more, but a brush like this is vital for me for a few reasons. If I'm using a cream, a liquid blush or bronzer, this is a must have because it helps blend it all out without looking patchy. Again, this is a good one for tanning the hands. I have a different duo fibre brush that I have indeed used on my hands and I didn't do too bad of a job. Kinda. It was my fault, the brush is innocent.

An angled brush is something that's always in my collection and this one from SoSu by SJ (is part of a brush set) is one of my favourites. I like angled brushes for applying contour as opposed to a bronzer because it means I can be a bit more precise with application and sculpt those cheekbones. It's also great for applying blush to the apples of the cheeks with a dabbing motion and can then be used to sweep what's left on the brush up the cheeks. I used to go wild with the blush (and sometimes I still do), but I'm trying to be more refined. And that's why I also really like the Fuschia Tapered Highlight Brush for blush because I can be a bit more careful with the placement initially. This is also great for highlight and applying pressed powder in smaller parts of my giant face.

Finally, we have the Blank Canvas Cosmetics Small Tapered Contour F40 on the left, and the Blank Canvas Cosmetics F86 Short Buffer Brush which look similar, but I use them differently. I love using the F40 to apply highlight along my cheekbones and to apply loose and pressed powder to smaller areas of my face. And as for the F86, it is brilliant for applying cream contour and for buffing it out too. And if you have cream or liquid blushes or highlights, this is great for that.

And so ends this mammoth post on my favourite face brushes! If you watch any of my videos on Instagram, you'll most likely recognise them because I use them all the time.

What are your favourite face brushes? Let me know!

The best lavender beauty products for 2020

2020-04-19T17:01:00.000+01:00

For so many of us at the moment, stress and anxiety levels are high, and we're having to find different ways to cope with it all. And along with journalling, doing digital detoxes and trying to switch off as much as I can, I've also been reaching for the big guns at Lovely Girlie HQ, and have rooted out all of my lavender favourites.

The scent of lavender just soothes my soul, instantly calming me. It helps me feel more zen, helps reduce my anxiety, and after the last few weeks, I'm most definitely in need of its powers! While I won't be getting to any of those fragrant lavender fields in Provence this year, I wanted to highlight some of my lavender essentials that I've been turning to at the moment and hopefully give you some inspiration.

But first, if your local garden centre is delivering, or whenever they open up again, I can't recommend enough getting yourself a few lavender plants. We have six now at the back wall of the garden in an homage to Valensole, and I can't wait for them to start blooming in the summer. They're the Hidcote type (who knew there were lots of varieties, but this is the one I know and love the most). In the photo below you'll see dried lavender that we brought home so carefully from our trip last year and I take this out on special occasions because it's so delicate, and this transports me to France instantly. We bought a few little sachets over there too, but last year we took some lavender from our plants and dried them ourselves, making our own little sachets of calm. I totally recommend doing that gals.

In the event that you can't get near any lavender itself, I have some alternatives.

I can't count how many of the Waxperts Original Lavender candles (€30) we've gone through over the last couple of years and Ellen and Trish got this so right. The scent fills the whole downstairs of the house and genuinely is so soothing and calming and burns for ages, 45 hours to be exact. Containing pure lavender essential oil, this is the closest I can get to a French lavender field and that moment where you get out of the car there and the scent fills the air. It's magic and is a gorgeous treat for yourself or a loved one and after trying out a load of lavender candles over the years, this is the best. I know I'm biased because the gals are my friends, but honestly no other lavender candle comes close to this one.

If you're not a candle fan, but still want to get your lavender fix in the home, then the Waxperts Lavender Scent Room Spray (€15) is most definitely worth checking out. Sprayed in a room or on your pillow, this instantly helps create a zen ambience, so I recommend phone off, throw on a face mask, spritz this and you're good to go.

Waxperts also have a Beautiful Body Oil (€12.99) in the collection that again smells incredible and is perfect for applying on damp skin after your bath or shower. It absorbs into the skin quickly and has a delicate and light fragrance. This is one I use after the shower in the evenings when I want to switch off, and this is a crucial step!

Mam and I always have a stock pile of the L'Occitane Lavender (or Lavande if you're feeling fancy and French) products on hand. There's an entire range of products in this collection, from soaps to hand washes, bubble baths to hand creams and I love every single product I've tried from it. I've just finished a bottle of this shower gel and thankfully have this one ready to go, but if you want to create a relaxing spa at home, starting with this shower gel and body lotion is a great place to start. I got to visit the L'Occitane factory when I was in France a couple of years ago and visited a field from the area where they pick the lavender, which was a true pinch me moment. I was then attacked by a mad looking bee thing which was fun times, but still, I'd go back to that field any day!

The Yon-Ka Huile Detox from the Aroma Fusion Collection (€39) is another favourite of mine for after the shower in the evenings. It's a dry oil which I use on lightly towel dried skin that's a bit damp, and spritz it all over, allowing it to absorb quickly. It has a lighter lavender fragrance than the rest of the products in this post, so if you're not a fan of overly scented things, then it's definitely worth checking out. There's a bath and shower oil, an exfoliator and moisturiser in the Detox range too, so if you fancy an at-home Yon-Ka spa session, then you know what to do.

I think the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (€23) was the first lavender based product I'd tried in my adult life and years later, it's still something I reach for when the stress levels are high before bed. I've bought countless bottles of it over the years for friends and family too and I ration it, keeping it for The Bad Nights, because I don't want to become immune to its power. I find when I use this (most of the time), I sleep so hard, waking up in the same position I went to sleep in. When I'm stressed and anxious, I can fall asleep easily enough, but it's when I wake up during the night and start thinking all of the thoughts, that's where the problem is. But this definitely helps me get a better sleep. Mam has taken ownership of these two products, and hers are entirely more photogenic than my bottle of the pillow spray. But it's a keeper.

Let me know what are your favourite lavender products!

How I'm saving my nails after peeling off my Shellac

2020-04-17T08:00:00.000+01:00

I know. I KNOW! I shouldn't have done it but I did. I big fat did. I peeled my Shellac off despite having all of the tools and products at home, and I think it was partly a bit of stress peeling if I'm honest. It happened around the start of the lock down situation here in Ireland I half the time I didn't even realise I was doing it, but I did and now my nails are paying the price.

What I should've done is gently filed across each nail, breaking the top coat and allowing the acetone to penetrate through the polish and break up the Shellac. Then I should've gotten some little pieces of cotton wool and tin foil, soaked the cotton wool in acetone, placed that on my each nail and wrapped up the tops of my fingers for 15 minutes or so. At that point, I should've used an orange stick or scraping tool to remove the polish. Did I do any of this? NO. Have I learned my lesson? Probably. For the next few months anyway...

But it's like CND know me. They know what I'm like and what I'm capable of, and it's why they sent me these two saviours, saviours I tell you! And with the results I've been seeing for the last couple of weeks with regular use... Well let's just say CND are making it real hard for me to promise I'll never peel off my Shellac again #justsayin

I keep a bottle of CND Rescue Rxx on my desk and apply it throughout the day, massaging it into my nails and cuticles. I've gone through phases of my nails being weak and peeling (nothing to do with picking off my polish) and this always works wonders. This isn't my first rodeo when it comes to Rescue Rxx and it's usually from week 2 where I start to see improvements and that's where I'm at now. Recent weekend activities like peeling wallpaper off walls and painting things meant that the nails on my right hand have dried out more than my left, but the nails on my left hand are nearly back to normal now. So what I've been doing since The Peeling Incident of 2020 is applying a layer of Rescue Rxx when I sit down at my desk and massage it into my nails. It's not a polish and doesn't dry hard or anything. It has more of an oil consistency, so when I wash my hands, I apply another light layer of this, or else I go in with the next product. The keratin protein and jojoba oil is what works the magic, helping to repair your damaged nails.

Something else I've been using is the CND Solar Oil Nail Care Pen and this contains jojoba, rice bran and sweet almond oils to help nourish the nails. It's got a twist mechanism and a brush applicator that's easy to use and it's ideal for carrying around in your handbag (when we have places to go and people to see). It has a strong scent of marzipan, thanks to the almond oils, so I can't have my hands close to my face as I am not a fan or marzipan, a marzi-fan if you will. But this stuff works wonders and applying a layer of this has become my pre-Zoom call ritual.

Now as most of us aren't able to get the nails done again anytime soon, but don't want to go bare nailed, definitely check out the CND Vinylux polishes from the English Garden Spring Collection. If the nails are prepared properly, I can get a good 7-10 days out of the Vinylux polishes, however as my nails aren't back to their former glory, I most likely won't get that long. Especially if I'm continuing with my DIY extravaganza. Any of these with the Vinylux topcoat gives a long-lasting finish and is removed easily with your regular nail polish remover. No peeling needed.

The shades from left to right, starting with that beaut of a mint green - Magical Topiary, Kiss from a Rose, Flowered Folly (my favourite of the bunch), Soft Peony, Lady Lilly and Carnation Bliss. It's the perfectly curated palette of polishes for spring, fit for us sitting in our gardens.

I wanted to show you Flowered Folly up close because it's the perfect dusky pink shade and I'm tempted to repaint my nails with this, or maybe try one of the other shades. Which one should I go for?

Are you guilty of peeling off your Shellac? Let me know and I won't judge!

My version of the Marie Kondo Folding Technique - aka how to see all of my tops at once!

2020-04-13T16:48:00.000+01:00

Over the weekend, I took a notion to go through my tops and organise them. And that's all I was aiming to do. However this lead to the mother of all clear outs which involved me ripping the old wallpaper from inside of my wardrobe that's been there since I moved in years ago. Then I decided I needed to paint the interior of the wardrobe, before sorting through my Kallax units in my bedroom. And all because it was a gorgeous sunny day and I wanted to get my spring/summer tops ready for action. Two non-stop days later and I'm exhausted but so organised!

For the last five years or so, I've been folding my tops using the Marie Kondo folding technique and while the rest of my bedroom can be a mess, those two drawers are always the tidiest in the house! This i's a system that works for me, given the limited storage I have in my room and if I had more drawers, I'd be doing the same with them. I have a Malm unit from Ikea that houses some of my clothes and rather than having the tops laying flat where I can only see whichever one is on the top, I fold them up using the Marie Kondo folding method and I can see them all at once.

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I first learned how to do this when I bought Marie's book, and it really is life changing! Every few months I go through my clothes and donate anything that doesn't bring me joy, so I always love all of my clothes. Now I mightn't have the folding technique down 100%, but that's ok, this works for me and there are so many videos on YouTube showing how to do this a lot more accurately than I'm about to show you.

When organising my tops the other day, it became apparent the I am fond of a stripe. And now they're all lined up side by side, ready for action.

The idea is to fold your items up so that they're all the same width as each other, and when they're stacked side by side, they look uniform. I've a few tops like the one below that have designs on the front and are plain at the back and I want to be able to see the design when it's in the drawer so I know what I'm reaching for.

I start by placing the top face down (usually on my bed) and smooth it out.

Taking one side, I fold it inwards, usually about a third of the width of the top, but you can judge for yourself depending on how you want it all to look when it's done.

I fold the second side across and smooth it all out again.

Starting from the bottom of the top, I fold upwards. I can usually tell how many folds something will need so that it looks all even in the drawer. Marie folds the item in half and then half again, but I've just gotten into the habit of doing it this way and it works for me.

Every time I do a fold, I smooth the top and press down a bit.

Et voila! You have a teeny tiny top that's going to sit in your drawer beautifully. Now Marie says that the clothes should stand up on their own if you were to place them on their side, but the effort of that. My clothes are going to be bet into the drawer and won't need to be able to stand up at all at all.

Feel free to colour co-ordinate your clothes, or arrange them based on sleeve length or design. Me? Nah.

I find I can fit so much more into drawers and I can see everything. This works well for leggings, jeans, pretty much anything! So if you're struggling with space when it comes to your clothes, try this out.

It might seem like a bit of an effort, but honestly, it takes seconds and it's really satisfying when it's done!

Have you been tidying, organising, decluttering over the last few weeks?

Spotlight on: Nuxe fragrances

2020-04-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

I haven't met a Nuxe fragrance I haven't loved gals. They bring me so much joy, so many memories, they can change my mood in seconds and I wanted to give them some love back, because they're keeping me going right now!

Now, as always, I can tell you all of the notes in perfumes to beat the band, but I always find myself explaining how a fragrance makes me feel. I really do attach memories to scents and it's why, at this surreal time of our lives, I'm not sticking to one scent, because I don't want to wear just one and then later in the year, go to wear it again and think ah yes, this smells like the time in my life where I couldn't leave the house and would get severe rage at those who I'd meet on my walk who wouldn't adhere to social distancing rules. No, my beloved fragrances deserve more than that. So I'm alternating them, picking different ones depending on my mood and Nuxe's offerings have been keeping me going in recent weeks.

Nuxe Le Matins Des Possibles (€49.50) is the most lovely morning time fragrance, as you might expect from the name - the morning of possibilities. This has notes of orange blossom, one of my favourite notes when it comes to scents and smells like green, springtime goodness. Bright, fresh, florals and an instant mood booster, I've been spraying this when I need a hit of energy, and do not judge me, but I've been spraying this before going onto video calls to give me a pep in my step. It works ok? It gives you that instant feeling that you get when the first cup of coffee hits your soul and works its magic, or you know that feeling where you've sat down at your desk, feeling all motivated and have written out your to do list for the day and you know you're going to get loads ticked off? It smells like positivity, happiness and makes me ready to tackle the day ahead. There's a gift set in this with the perfume and candle for €49.50, so you get the candle for free!

Nuxe recently brought out the Nuxe Sun Delicious Fragrant Water in a 30ml size which is a great way of trying a new scent without investing in a full sized bottle, and this is where I know that Nuxe and I have an understanding. See I'm known to carry multiple full sized bottles of perfume around with me in my handbag. This can get heavy, but as I love chopping and changing my scents depending on how I'm feeling, I need them with me all the time. I've a full sized bottle of this over in Spain for the next time I'm over and now this 30ml bottle fits perfectly into my handbag. This is sunshine in a bottle and makes me smile every single solitary time I wear it. It has notes of sweet oranges and petitgrain, coconut, tiare flower, vanilla and musk and if you'll excuse me, after typing that out and spraying it on me, I'm ready to book a holiday. It's pure joy and trust me when I say you'll love this and if you spray it whilst sitting out in the back garden, and close your eyes really hard, you'll be on a tropical island ... Kind of.

I can see myself using up my Prodigieux Le Parfum (€35/30ml, €49.50/50ml) very soon because while I can't even think about holidays at the moment, I can smell like one. If you love the scent of Nuxe's iconic Huile Prodigieuse (which I now pronounce Hooly Prodijoosy), then you're going to love this. It has notes of orange flowers, magnolia and vanilla which all work together harmoniously to become a scent that transports you to a beach where you're wearing a flowy white dress, you've been able to master the effortless tousled look with your hair and all is well in the world. This smells like holidays, pure and simple. I recently found out that in Germany, they see this as a winter scent which is mad, because to me, it's summer, hot summer, hot summer where I'm not sweating rings around myself. This comes in a 30ml travel sized version too along with the regular 50ml bottle.

Nuxe Body Relaxing Fragrant Water (€12) is one of those delicate, just had the best shower of my life, used all of my fancy bits, put on fresh pyjamas, and not only that, I've also changed the sheets, fragrances. We're talking an instant soothing and calming waft of tranquility that comes with this beaut. Coconut sorbet, white flowers and wild vanilla which blends together beautifully to give me that comforting feeling that something like baby powder does. You know that familiar feeling where you know everything is going to be ok? That's what the Relaxing Fragrant Water smells like. And again, Nuxe has brought this out in a 30ml size for anyone looking to test it out (carry it around in their handbags).

Nuxe Le Soir Des Possibles (€49.50) is ready and waiting to go for when we're allowed to go out at night again. Right now, no soir has any possibles other than staying inside, but sure listen, things will get back to normal soon! This is a jasmine based fragrance which again, is one of my favourite notes when it comes to scents and combined with patchouli, it's the ideal evening scent for me. It's warm, woody and musky, but isn't overpowering. This also comes in a gift set for the same price as the perfume with the matching candle.

Nuxe just get me when it comes to scents and I can't pick a favourite of these five. Each provide me with different feelings, different memories and long may they continue to do so!

What's your favourite Nuxe scent?

Face masks I'm loving while staying home

2020-04-09T07:30:00.000+01:00

Is it just me, or have we all gone face mask crazy? For those of us who like to go to spas or salons to get treatments, it's up to us now to maintain our skin until our next facial, and for those who don't usually have time to pamper ourselves, we have nothing but time now! I must say, I'm partial to an aul face mask because it gives me a reason to switch off, they work wonders on my skin and I get to mess around with them (see bottom of post!)

I went through some face masks I'm using over on Instagram last week and thought a blog post would be handy too. I get asked quite frequently as to what face mask I'd recommend for someone in their 30s and 40s and I always reply with the same thing in that I reach for different masks (and all skincare really) depending on my skin concerns at that time. You could have someone in their 30s who has dry skin, who has acne prone skin, who has congested skin, and all would need different skincare. For the record, I'm 43, have normal/combination skin with an oily t-zone and normal cheeks. I get the odd hormonal break out and that's about it. Want to see what masks I have in rotation at the moment? These were sent to me to test out and review and I've done exactly that.

The Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Overnight Masque (€62) is one of my favourites and I reach for it when I want a hit of cooling hydration overnight. The cooling effect comes from the gel texture which melts into my skin, and blue-green algae extract, a natural retinoid alternative, helps my skin appear smoother. It's so easy to go overboard with this mask and apply too much, but because it's spendy, I've been rationing it like a good thing. The zesty citrus fragrance is lovely and fresh and last summer, I kept this in the fridge for an extra cooling effect on the skin. Not a good idea when trying to unwind and nod off, but it's totally worth it for how my skin looks and feels the following morning.

The Yon-Ka Hydra No1 Masque (€48.50) is quite possibly the best mask I've ever used (and I've used a lot). Again, this is one for those suffering with dehydration and on days where I haven't been looking after my skin, maybe I've used a cleanser that's dried my skin out, or I've spent too much time nearly sitting on the radiator to stay warm, this is one of my constant go-to masks. On nights where I need my skin soothed and comforted, a thin layer goes on and in minutes, my skin soaks it right up. And if I feel I need more, then I add more. I'm wild like that. I've also worn this as a daily moisturiser when my skin needs some extra hydration, and on days where I don't have time to let it sit for ages, and want an instant hit of hydration, I apply a thick layer, leave it on for 10-15 minutes and if there's any residue, I gently scrape it off and use it on the back of my hands because gals it's nearly €50 and I'm not wasting a ml of this!

Now we can't all be shelling out big money for masks all the time, I get that, and this Garnier Fruit Aha Shot Fresh-Mix Tissue Mask is great value at €5.49. The packet has two compartments with the serum in one half and the dry tissue in the other. By rolling up and squeezing the packet, the serum mixes with the mask, so it's all freshly soaked. I felt like it was a bit faffy trying to mix it all and also thought there was a lot of serum left over, so it went on my neck, back of hands, arms, elbows, you name it, it got slathered! I definitely felt like my skin looked brighter after using the mask and have a couple more from Garnier that I'll be trying.

The Yon-Ka Masque 105 (€37) wins the award for the mask that smells like an actual spa treatment, and a couple of weeks ago where I indulged in a pamper day with my pal Catherine, the therapist used this on me and I was in my element. This sage green mask contains three different types of clay which purifies the skin, tightens pores and brightens the complexion. I like using it on blemishes to help draw out the gick. And what I love about this mask (apart from the fragrance), is that it leaves my skin looking brighter, feeling smoother and it doesn't dry out my skin like some other clay masks do.

Finally we have the No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum Boost Sheet Mask (€34/pack of 4) which I love for many reasons. It has ear hooks on it which means if you don't have time to lie down and chill out while it's working, you can walk about and do your bits and multitask like a good thing. It contains a week's worth of Matrixyl 3000 Plus along with Hyaluronic Acid and is said to have a cumulative effect (that's a fancy term for the more often you use them - once a week for four weeks, you'll see a big difference in your skin). Now because I'm loyal to absolutely no mask whatsoever, I haven't tried this and only this for four weeks, so can't say if it's true, but what I can say is that after using this, my skin looks more glowy and plump and hydrated. I love the No7 masks!

And after applying this one last week on Instagram, I of course had to give you all nightmares (and a laugh too). Please tell me you do this too when using sheet masks! And let me know what your favourite face mask is!

View this post on Instagram

Sometimes you just need to slap a face mask on and act the maggot to stay sane! What are you doing to cope being at home? Let’s give each other some tips! #lovelygirliebits

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Mar 31, 2020 at 1:00pm PDT

5 hand creams I'm reaching for right now

2020-04-07T08:08:00.000+01:00

We are quite literally elbow deep in hand washing at the moment and if we're not washing our poor paws, we're slathering them with the much coveted hand sanitiser. Yes, while hand sanitiser is keeping our hands clean and disinfected, it's also sucking every bit of moisture left in them due to the high alcohol content. More than ever now, we're so aware of hand hygiene, and so it should be, but we have to look after our hands, and as Lovely Mammy Bits says about pretty much anything, if you look after them, they'll look after you. She says this about things like the car, the hoover, the garden shed... And now hands. These are five hand creams I'm reaching for to help keep my hands soft, nourished and hydrated at the moment.

Things that you should know before we head into this feature.

1. The happy birthday song has been ruined, ruined I tell you, so anybody I know who has a birthday in the next couple of months, I shall be singing a Steps song to you or something ok thanks.

2. I've been rotating these hand creams and keep a couple on my desk, a couple on my bedside table and then kind of carry one with me like a big lunatic and this is why. I spoke about this on Instastories in that I'm so weird when it comes to scents and I attach memories to fragrances. I know what I'm like and I don't want to ruin any of these hand creams on me and go to use one of them next year and think ah, this smells like the time we weren't able to leave our houses for months, the good old days...

I joke though, and that's what's getting me through this. Laughter and hand creams. Let's get into this shall we?

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream aka the hand cream that Mam buys every single solitary time she's in The Loop Duty Free. She's literally never without a tube on the go and say nothing but I haven't told her that they sent this to me, so shhh. This is a really rich emollient cream that feels like luxury, containing soothing sesame oil and Japanese Mulberry to help strengthen the skin. It absorbs quickly into my hands and is said to help diminish dark spots and now that I think of it, Mam is always admiring how lovely her hands are. She's onto something! But it's not just for Mammies, it's for everyone.

Next we have Yonka Creme Mains aka the one that smells like sunshine. This contains Shea Butter, Grapeseed oil, vegetable glycerin, and vitamins A, C and E and the zesty citrus scent is so uplifting. Like all of the hand creams in this post, I take a couple of minutes to work it into my skin, nails and cuticles and it absorbs quickly too. I know it's not about the packaging but it just brightens up my desk and it's why it's not on my bedside table. I'd be awake half the night with the mood lifting scent.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream aka the one that smells like luxury. I've gone through tubes of this over the years because it does a stellar job of softening my hands, it doesn't feel greasy at all, it's got honey, precious oils and vitamin E, but it's the scent that gets me in the feels. Its soothing and almost comforting fragrance is a mix of honey and florals, nice and bright and spring like. I like using this as a treat and take time working it into my nails. My nails that aren't currently speaking to me as I peeled off my Shellac. I know. That gives me an excuse to use this even more.

CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream aka the no muss no fuss one. This is a hand cream to reach for when the skin is dry and cracked and you need something that's going to restore the skin's barrier. It's unscented and contains three essential ceramides along with hyaluronic acid. My brother sent me a photo of his poor scaldy hands that are nearly bleeding the other day and he needs this. Stephen, this. Again, we're talking non greasy and fast absorbing, and ideal if you're not a fan of scented products and also want to properly tackle your poor hands.

Soap & Glory Hand Food aka the one that gives me nostalgia. If you love the scent of Soap & Glory products, then you're going to enjoy this one because it smells like the Boots star gift every Christmas! We're talking bergamot, strawberries and mandarin with musk, amber and vanilla and I tend to reach for it when I need some cosy comfort. The scent isn't Christmassy, don't get me wrong, it just reminds me of that time of the year. It's got a nice thick texture and takes a little while to absorb into my skin, but that's ok. All the more time to enjoy the scent.

Using hyaluronic acid in the winter - are you doing it right?

2020-01-15T07:30:00.000+00:00

I talk about Hyaluronic Acid a good bit on my stories as it's something I use most days, and whenever I mention it, particularly in the winter, I tend to get messages from people saying they don't like it and that their skin feels tight after applying it. I usually have the chats with them and give them some advice, but thought I'd write this post for anyone else who doesn't get the hype when it comes to Hyaluronic Acid. Now that it's winter, it's so important to make sure you're using it properly, and that's where your Auntie Karen comes in. Keep reading gals and guys.

Let me give you a bit of background without going too science-y. Our skin naturally produces hyaluronic acid to help maintain its own moisture levels, but with aging and environmental aggressors like UV exposure, those levels can take a dip. There's nowt we can do about that internally, so it's up to us to help our skin topically.

Now, Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant, so it draws moisture from its surroundings, holding up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture. You might hear about some products using high and low molecular weights of hyaluronic acids in them, and that means that the larger molecules sit on the top layers of the skin, plumping those layers away like a good thing, and the smaller molecules can penetrate a bit deeper, plumping out the lower layers.

Remember when I said above that Hyaluronic Acid draws moisture from its surroundings? In the winter, using the central heating can make the air dry. And so the hyaluronic acid automatically wants to pull water from where the moisture is to help balance it out. And that means it's pulling it out of your skin thanks to being in contact with the dry air, where it evaporates. So it's vital to apply a barrier between the hyaluronic acid that's on your skin and the air. That's where your moisturiser comes in, or even a facial oil. These will lock the hyaluronic acid in and prevent it from pulling any moisture out of your skin.

I hope that helped! And if you're in the market for a Hyaluronic Acid Serum, here are some to check out.

Image Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler - €78.50

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum - €38

The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum - €6.99

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - €6.80

6 multifunctional products to have in your collection

2020-01-13T16:50:00.000+00:00

I feel like 2020 is the year where we're going to try and cut down on the amount of beauty products we have. We've become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of tubs and bottles in our bathrooms and in an attempt to cut back, reduce our plastic use, and save a few bob, I've picked out some of my favourite multifunctional products that I reach for time and time again. They're only whopper, so take a look and then let me know your favourite multifunctional products!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - €19.50 - €35 (Affiliate link)

Nuxe's Huile Prodigieuse isn't just for the summer holidays, you can use it throughout the year. And you can best believe that I'm lashing this on like a good thing this month while I wait to book a holiday... Nuxe have four variations of their much loved Huile Prodigieuse - the original (and my favourite), the Huile Prodigieuse Riche which is for drier skin types, Huile Prodigieuse Or which is lovely and shimmery, and the newest member to the family, Huile Prodigieuse Florale. Each of these can be used on the face, body and hair and while they all smell incredible, they're packed full of botanical oils and vitamin E to help nourish the skin. If you're using them on your hair, you can apply them as a pre-shampoo mask or to the ends of your hair after you've finished drying it. Using these makes me want to book a holiday so if you'll excuse me....

Note Cosmetics Bronzing Powder - €15.95

Last year, I developed a penchant for using my bronzer on my eyes. Is this revolutionary? Not a bit. Is it handy AF? You betcha. I always feel like adding a bronzer, or even a cooler toned contour into the crease or on the lid gives depth to my eyes and makes me look more awake, which is something I'm needing a lot of help this month. The effort of January... And the bronzer I reach for over and over is the Note Cosmetics Bronzing Powder which has the most subtle shimmer in it, thus adding a bit of light and life to the face, while also warming it up and sure that's what it's all about isn't it? Light and life. This will last me for ages as it's absolutely massive!

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - €59 (affiliate link)

My sister finally tried the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm before Christmas, proclaiming to me that it was absolute gorgeous, like I haven't been saying it to her FOR YEARS NOW. Sacre bleu. I've gone through tubs and tubs of this cleansing balm over the years and there's not a single time I go to use it and don't inhale the gorgeous scent. It feels like such a treat every time I got to use it. Not only does it cleanse the skin and remove makeup effortlessly, but it can be used as a face mask too. Leave a thicker layer on for 10 minutes to work its magic before removing it. And finally, it can be used on your dry bits too as a rescue balm. I'm talking scaldy dry elbows, lips, cuticles, you get the idea.

Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Beauty Base - €24.95

This is as multifunctional as they come because Beauty Base is a serum, a moisturiser, a primer, an SPF and a highlight too. It has peptides that help plump the skin along with hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, not to mention SPF 30 to give UVA & UVB protection. This gives a gorgeous glow under my makeup and it smells fabulous too. You can wear it on its own on bare skin for a lit from within glow, or mix it in with your foundation too to help sheer out the coverage and give your skin some soft focused radiance.

Waxperts Wonder Pads - €9.99

These little pads of joy have saved me many a time and for different reasons. The magic is in the salicylic acid which exfoliates the skin, so whether you have a painful ingrown hair, or a nasty blemish that's appeared from nowhere, or maybe you have Keratosis Pilaris on your upper arms, these will take care of you quick smart. Last year, a day before the Image awards and what happened? I woke up to a whopper second head trying to grow out of my chin. TYPICAL. It was one of those pimples that had a pulse, but I knew I had the Wonder Pads in the office, so went on a deep dive for them, found them, and sat for the evening holding one up against the pimple. After an hour, I genuinely saw and felt a difference in the blemish. It was less red and angry looking and it wasn't as hard. And the next morning, I woke up to nada on my chin. These are magic and are a staple in my house.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate - €16.99

I first heard about this years ago from the Chapman sisters (Pixiwoo on YouTube) who were massive fans of this, but it was only last year when I realised just how many different uses it has, and after finally trying it, I was hooked. Hence the scaldy looking tube that I need to replace! This is a primer, a moisturiser, a makeup remover, a face mask, an after-shave cream and a baby-care product. I can attest that I've used it in four of those ways, but if I ever need to use it post shave or somehow acquire a baby, I'll let you know how I get on. The reason why the tube is so messy is because I brought it travelling with me last year in an attempt to be able to fit all of my liquids into that teeny tiny sandwich bag for airport security. My main uses for it are as a moisturiser and a mask, and a cleanser while I'm travelling. I find it too heavy for my skin to wear under my foundation, but on no makeup days, it gets lashed on, as well as before I go to sleep. And when my skin is feeling tight or dehydrated, I love applying a layer and then watching it get soaked up by my skin, leaving it feeling plumped, soft and supple.

What's your favourite multifunctional beauty product?

Estee Lauder Double Wear Dupe? PS... My Perfect Colour Double Coverage Matte for €5

2020-01-07T07:30:00.000+00:00

Funds might be a bit low after Christmas and as it's approximately 8.5 weeks until the next payday, we need to make our cash stretch a bit. And yet this might be the time where we've used up all of our makeup and skincare at once and girlfriend wants to wear a bit of foundation. But fear not, for I have a dupe of my beloved Estee Lauder Double Wear in the form of the PS... My Perfect Colour Double Coverage Matte Foundation. Keep reading!

Both bottles look similar enough with the frosted glass, but it's what's inside that counts isn't it?

Now these shades aren't identical, but they're close enough so I can get away with it and still be able to show you a proper before and after. For the application of both foundations, I used a damp makeup sponge as it's the only way I've been applying my Double Wear for years for the best and most flawless finish on my skin. So I wanted to keep it even Stevens. Also, for full disclosure, because I was taking the photos on a day where the sun kept going in and out and in and out and wrecking my head, for consistency, I used a ring light for the photos, but adjusted my camera settings so that the colour was as accurate as possible.

Let's start with Estee Lauder's Double Wear in the shade 1N2 Ecru. This is a repurchase of mine, made in The Loop Duty Free last summer and it's one of my all time favourite bases (once applied with a sponge). For those with oily skin like myself, this foundation has incredible longevity, and has saved my face many a time in the summer and stays put all day too, while wearing well. It's my go to fancy foundation when I'm on a night out or at an event where I know I won't be able to hide from the photographer. Behold a before and after photo that's one layer blended out on my skin with no powder or concealer. It looks natural and radiant and hides the redness easily. And it's €40 in shops (€34 in The Loop), so definitely on the spendy side.

Estee Lauder Double Wear before & after

And then below we have the PS... My Perfect Colour Double Coverage Matte Foundation in shade 05 Nude which is €5. Because neither of the bottles come with a pump, I had to estimate the amount being poured onto the back of my hand, so while the finish of this is pretty much identical on me, it gives slightly fuller coverage, but that could be because I applied a bit more out to begin with. But look at the finish... It's flawless, high coverage and while it dries down matte, it still gives a radiant glow to my skin, but without looking sweaty.

PS... My Perfect Colour Double Coverage Matte Foundation before & after

And for a proper side by side of the two, have a look at the photo below which shows Double Wear on the left, and My Perfect Colour on the right. Both apply identically on me, they have the same texture and finish when they dry down, they have the same level of longevity and I cannot find a difference between the two, except for the price. Ok well Double Wear has SPF 10 and My Perfect Colour has SPF15 and a slight scent compared to Double Wear. But let's see what they're like side by side!

Left: Estee Lauder Double Wear
Right: PS... My Perfect Colour Double Coverage Matte

And there we have it, if funds are low, sure even if they're not, and you love your Double Wear, give the My Perfect Colour version a go! If you do try it, let me know how you get on!

19 cool things that happened in 2019!

2019-12-31T17:28:00.002+00:00

What a year 2019 was eh? I feel like it went by so quickly with each month flying by faster than the month before and while I'm going to end the year on a positive note and chat about the highs, please know that there were plenty of lows too! I'll save those for another day! I love doing these posts every year and this will be the fifth year I've done them, so in no particular order, here are 19 cool things that happened in 2019!

1. I came 2nd in Image Business of Beauty Awards!

This was mad because I was up against some whopper competition and I genuinely wasn't expecting to place at all as I'm the absolute geriatric of the blogging world. The Image BOB awards is always one of my favourite nights out because it's great craic, so many of my pals go and I get to play dress up! I bought this dress on Simply Be and loved how floaty and comfy it was and I only had to tan from the shoulders down. RESULT!

2. I did a talk for Fuschia on social media bits!

Back in October, I did a talk for some Fuschia stockists on how to utilise social media for sales and brand awareness and this was so far outside of my comfort zone, but is something I'm so passionate about and could talk about for ages. I only got to chat for 40 minutes and tried my best to give as much value to everyone as possible, but we barely touched on what I wanted to get across, so I'll need to do more of them in 2020 and pass on my knowledge!

3. I made some new friends and had gas time with older pals!

I often wonder if I wasn't doing something like this, would it be hard to make friends. I'm jammy enough to get to go to events and meet new people online and then offline, and the shenanigans of 2019 helped me meet new pals and solidify friendships. I met one of my good pals Lisa McGowan (you might know her better as Lisa's Lust List) through Instagram and we chat almost every day, and I've been friends with Carly Colgan-Bates (from Live Lavishly) for ages now! A few months ago when I was going through a bad patch and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to continue blogging, both of these gals gave me whopper advice which was like turning a lightbulb on for me and I don't think they'll ever know how grateful I am to them. It's gals like those two who make the internet a deadly place for me. I've so many other friends that have brought loads of joy into my life this year that we could be here for the day!

4. I was a guest on some whopper podcasts

I think 2019 was the year I discovered the world of podcasts and got stuck into them so much. I learned loads from ones on working for yourself, on working in the beauty industry and in social media. Not for a second did I think I'd actually be on any, but in 2019, the Irish podcast industry really stepped up a gear and I was a guest on two episodes of Aisling's podcast, Private Education. I don't talk about my private life or sex online, so this was a huge step for me. I was completely out of my comfort zone doing them, but I tried something new, and how else am I going to get better at something? I chatted with Esther O'Moore Donohue about life after leaving my job and going freelance and waffled about all things beauty with Vicki and Valerie on Stellar Magazine's Podcast The Glow Up. And my final podcast of the year was a big long chat with one of my good pals Orla McConnon on her recently launched Adulting With Friends. Keep up the deadly work gals!

5. I did an Image event with McCauley Pharmacy!

Now while public speaking still gives me pains in my stomach with the fear and anxiety, this is the first one I did that I had no fear, no anxiety, no pains, nada and that's because I was doing it with my pal Aisling Keenan! She played a blinder as the MC and we had the absolute chats about all things beauty in McCauley Pharmacy in Carlow and it was one of my favourite jobs ever! More of those please!

6. I abseiled down the side of Croke Park!

This was so much craic! My lovely friend Vivi from L'Occitane asked if I wanted to do the abseil in aid of Sight Savers and it was always going to be a yes. It was for an amazing cause and it turns out, I'm not afraid of heights! And typing this out just reminded me I have Go-Pro footage of the day that I need to find and watch and I know 95% of it will be of Catherine's face as I kept going to her "is the Go Pro on?"

7. I went backstage at Christmas FM!

In the office, we listen to Christmas FM every day in December and when they asked if I wanted to come in and see where it all happens, it was the quickest YES ever! I brought my festive loving pal Kim with me too as I knew she'd be just as excited as me and we had a ball! That's also for an amazing cause and this year they teamed up with Barretstown and I can't wait to see how much they raised this year.

8. I went to London Fashion Week!

I. Went. To. London. Fashion. Week. ME? I went with CND and got to go backstage at two shows to see what the nail trends were and lads, I absolutely loved it! It was mayhem, I was completely 100% not cool enough to be there and yet I was in my element!

9. I went back to Provence!

Joanne and I brought Mam to Provence in July as her birthday/Mother's Day present and her bestie Geraldine came too. We used Aix en Provence as our base and then each day we headed out on a day trip to a village and lavender fields. I just love that part of France so much and somehow I need to make it happen that I go again this year, even if it's by myself. I went the previous year with Catherine and fell in love with it, knowing I'd be back at some point. And it was while I was wandering through the gardens of the L'Occitane Hotel while Mam and Geraldine were getting their facials that I had one of those pinch me moments. How lucky was I to go to France twice, to be in the peaceful countryside. I'll be back France!

10. I went on some whopper press trips

I turned down a few press trips that weren't a right fit for me, but got to go on some truly gorgeous ones this year. I went to Finn Lough with ELF Cosmetics and shared a bubble dome with my pal Jen Morris, one of the funniest people on the planet.

I galavanted across the country to the Ice House Hotel in Mayo who had become a Yon-Ka spa and had much needed laughs and down time there. I was in the middle of a bout of really intense anxiety around that time, so spent the drive down doing breathing exercises which helped loads.

To celebrate the launch of the reformulated Ormedic range from Image skincare, we headed down to Monart Spa and again, had laughs and a gorgeous treatment with some of my Image favourites.

I also went to London and then Bath with L'Occitane to learn all about the Plastic Odyssey initiative which was just incredible and I know when I'm in London next, I'll be visiting the Regent Street branch and probably moving in.

11. I had a lovely Christmas with the family!

Usually it's just me, Mam and Joanne for Christmas, but this year we had Claire, Stephen and Matthew over which was so much fun! Seeing Christmas through Matthew's eyes was lovely and we got to play with him loads and have all the chats. We never got our photo in front of the Christmas tree, but that's next year's job!

12. I hit 50k on Instagram & got verified!
Pure vanity metrics, but a nice milestone to reach and also, I don't know what the benefits are of being verified, other than being called a little blue tick.

13. I did some whopper collabs!

I loved each and every collaboration I did this year and poured my guts into them. I was so aware that the last few months were quite spon con heavy, but it's just the way this industry works, it's all busy and then quiet for months. I turned down the ones that weren't a good fit for me and got to be super creative. And hopefully that will continue into 2020 gals.

14. I rearranged my office!

I took a notion to move things around in the office as it was getting a bit claustrophobic, and while it's grand, I'll be giving it a full makeover in 2020. And gals, I'm saying it now, my main resolution for the new year is to keep the office tidy for more than 24 hours at a time ok?! I've been pinning ideas on my Pinterest board with things I want to do to it next year, but I'm happy I changed it up!

15. I invested in a new camera!

This was badly needed for me and I love nothing more than investing in new equipment. I still love my Olympus Pen, but wanted something that was crisper and clearer for filming, so bought the Canon 80D body and next year I'll be investing in new lenses. And a new tripod.

16. I realised stuff!

I won't go into this loads, but in the words of Kylie Jenner, 2019 was the year of just realising stuff. For me personally, professionally, with friendships, with my career, I learned so much about what I want and what I don't want. I made it a goal of 2019 to be offline a bit more because it was taking over everything, and in doing that, I got the mental clarity I needed. So now I just have to put all of those realisations into action in 2020!

17. I hit 9 years of blogging!

I don't know how I'm still doing it, but 9 years later, and Lovely Girlie Bits is still going strong! I feel like the blog needs to make a comeback, I need to up my Instagram game, I need to get cracking on YouTube and there are like 5 other things I want to do that still involve everything that Lovely Girlie Bits is about. Thank you so much for the support gals, you've no idea how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

18. I did some deadly flatlay shoots!

I got to live my dream a few times this year and was a director/stylist (not even sure if they're the right words) for a few flatlay shoots for brands we look after in The Publicity Loft. I loved every step from the planning, the mood board, the prop lists, the shopping, the preparation, the shoot, seeing the photos afterwards and I want to do more of them in 2020. I like to think I've a good eye and know what makes a photo work and with my new tripod, I want to do them for myself too!

19. I survived another year of being self employed!

Barely! 2019 aged me so much with the stress and worry of when I'd be paid for work. Being a freelancer might sound cushy, and it has its benefits, but chasing up on invoices had my heart broke. I learned so much again, and in February, that will mark 2 years being self employed! I have so many plans and ideas I want to make happen over the next 12 months, so I need to get cracking now.

Thank you to everyone who interacts with my posts, who sends emails, DMs, leaves lovely comments. Your interaction and support is why I'm able to do this and why I had a deadly year. I hope you all have a happy new year and lets get stuck into 2020 shall we?!

Image Skincare & Yon-Ka Christmas gift sets

2019-11-18T20:01:00.000+00:00

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, Christmas is a time for giving and receiving as well as having and sharing. Now he wasn't talking about skincare, but the sentiment still stands, am I right?

Skincare sets are always a good idea when it comes to Christmas for a few reasons.

1. You can get away with treating yourself to a whole set at once, and it seems a bit more justifiable to do it that way as opposed to buying each product separately. Is that just me? Like you're technically only buying one item... Am I reaching here?!

2. Sets are usually much better value compared to buying the separate products.

3. If you're new to a skincare brand, this is a way of trialling out a few new products at once.

4. 'Tis the season to treat your face, fa la la la la, la la la laaaaaaa.

5. You'll always be a winner buying skincare for someone for Christmas, especially if they wouldn't usually treat themselves.

Image Skincare and Yon-Ka have some gorgeous sets out this year and kindly gave me one each to show you. And with the exception of one product, I've used the rest of the bits and love them.

The Image Skincare Renewing Ritual Collection has three full sized products in it and two minis. Inside the fierce luxurious box (which I'm already thinking about how to repurpose), there's the Max Stem Cell Facial Cleanser (I've not tried this yet but am a massive fan of the Max Stem Cell Creme, so have high hopes for it), along with an Image Skincare Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler which plumps and hydrates the skin and a Vital C Hydrating Facial Cream, one of my favourites from Image. So there's your cleanser, serum and moisturiser, and you get a mini I Mask Firming Transformation Mask and an Iluma Intense Brightening Serum. The set is €139 and you save €58.50 buying the products like this in the set.

Image Skincare have a range of sets available this year and they've launched two new ones last week, so keep an eye on their social media for more information. Image skincare, sure you can't go wrong with it.

Next up we have Yon-Ka Hydration Gift Set. Their Hydra range is one of my all time favourites and I regularly reach for the Hydra No1 mask and cream during the colder months as they're like a hug for my face. The Hydration Set retails at €57.50 and inside you get a full sized Hydra No1 Creme which is €51 itself. It's a lightweight yet powerful cream for those of us who have dehydrated, dry or sensitive skin. Along with that, you get a 15ml of the Hydra No1 Masque, which is essentially a drink of water for the skin and I love layering this on at night before bed and let it work its magic. There's also a 30ml Lait Nettoyant, one of the most gorgeously scented cleansers you'll ever try and can be used on the eyes, lips and face. And all of these are housed in a white vanity case. I'm telling you, I'll be hard pressed to keep this from Mam as she's a big fan of wash bags, vanity cases, makeup bags, you name it!

Again, Yon-Ka have outdone themselves this year with the Christmas gifting which can be bought online or in your local Yon-Ka salon. And don't even get me started on the candles. They are incredible and are such a luxurious treat and no matter how much you try to ration them, you're going to want to burn them!

Will you be treating yourself this Christmas?

7 face masks that are not just for Halloween!

2019-10-29T07:00:00.000+00:00

Those of a certain vintage will remember dressing up for Halloween back in the day. And when I say dressing up, I mean wearing a black sack as your outfit and one of those plastic face masks that made your face sweat loads and you always had to stick your tongue through the small opening for a laugh, only to cut yourself. Ah good times. While I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween, I'm fond of wearing a face mask all year long and these ones are not just for the spooky season! I've picked out just some of my favourite masks that I reach for when my skin needs a little extra somethin' somethin', so let's get cracking shall we!

Image Skincare I Mask Firming Transformation Mask - €65

This is one of Image Skincare's new launches from earlier this year and is said to help the skin's ability to resist stress. Well when I tell you with the amount of stress I've had recently, I've been lashing it on like a good thing in the hopes it will help said stress! While helping with the stressy bits, it also helps brighten the skin and increases skin's firmness and tone - something I'm conscious of as I hurtle towards my next birthday. It's blue, it helps tighten my skin and it's deadly!

e.l.f Beauty Shield Recharging Magnetic Mask - €29.95

I love this mask for a few reasons, the one being that it's the absolute craic using it! You can watch it in action on my Instagram where I filmed using it for the first time while simultaneously ruining an Ariana Grande Song. It has an iron based formula along with ingredients including carrot seed oil, vitamins E, C and Argan oil and when it dries, the magnetic spatula is used to remove it which is so satisfying! It leaves a light film on the skin which I love as masks like this can tend to dry out the skin. Not so with this. So. Much. Fun!

PS... Naturals Overnight Sleep Mask - €2.50

This is part of Primark Beauty/Penneys' Vegan Society accredited Naturals range and was the first product of the bunch that I tried out. I love an overnight mask and this one contains organic coconut water and Kakadu plums. I like to apply a thin layer all over the skin, let it absorb and then hit the hay. While this leaves my skin feeling super smooth, it's a bit too heavily scented for me, but you might like it. I think with the resealable top, it makes for a great mask to bring away if you're travelling!

Neutrogena Radiance Boost Instant Facial Cream Mask - €4.49

Again, this is a handy one for travelling, especially if you've been on a plane and need to give your skin a moisture boost. And it contains Vitamin B3, otherwise known as Niacinamide which helps both brighten and hydrate the skin. I find it so hard to peel back the lids of these tubs and end up having to slice my way in, making a grand mess. I'd love if the tubs were resealable because for me and my mush, there was a bit too much product in it for one use, and if I wanted to multi mask, I'd be left with way too much. But this is great at giving my skin some much needed hydration station across the nation.

Image Skincare I Mask Purifying Probiotic Mask - €54

This is another one of Image's new launches this year and is a mask I reach for when my skin feels like it needs a good clear out. You know when you've been wearing loads of makeup and your skin feels congested and scaldy? A layer of this helps to clear out my pores, helps even out my skin texture and balances the flora in the skin too. You have to be looking out for your flora don't ya know!

L'Occitane Soothing Face Mask - €32

I have been known to overload my skin with product, only to have it screaming out for some TLC and that's where the Soothing Mask from L'Occitane comes in. I always sound like Louis Walsh when describing this because it looks like a yogurt, it smells like a yogurt and it's fun Simon, it's fun! I digress, but this legit looks, feels and smells like you're applying a berry yogurt to the face and that's thanks to the fact that it contains blackcurrants. This instantly cools down, calms and soothes my skin when it's angry and I have to fight with myself not to eat it... I haven't.. Yet.. This is a gorgeous mask if you've been mean to your skin and it needs some loving.

Yon-Ka Masque 105 - €37

When I want to feel like I'm in a spa, when in fact I'm sitting at home in my fleece, the Yon-Ka Masque 105 is the one I reach for. It smells incredible and it contains three kinds of clay that help purify the skin, tighten pores and brighten the skin too. I love that despite feeling that it really does tighten my massive pores on either side of my nose, it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight. If Yon-Ka brought out a perfume with this scent, I'd be all over that!

And thus ends today's post where I waffle about some of my favourite face masks! Thanks for reading!

PS... Beauty My Perfect Colour shade extension, review, before & after photos

2019-10-07T07:30:00.000+01:00

I've had a few hit and miss experiences when it comes to PS... Beauty, or Primark Beauty, or Penneys Beauty, but let me say that their foundations are among the best I've tried (and I've tried a lot, both budget and high end).

They've relaunched the My Perfect Colour range recently and along with adding extra shades, they've a grand total of 180 products in the collection now, including the new addition, the PS... My Perfect Colour Ultra Longwear Concealer.

I went to the relaunch event recently, got colour matched and have been getting stuck into some of the products since. Paula Callan did my makeup on the day and after chatting about my skin type and what kind of finish I prefer, we decided to try the PS... My Perfect Colour Matte Foundation and gals, I'm in proper love. I'll talk to you about the oil-free formula and the matte finish that this gives in a second, but can we take a moment for the fact that this is €4. I'm not missing another number from that price. It's four quid. And it's far outperforming some of my higher end bases.

I have an oily t-zone and normal cheeks and this sits beautifully across my whole mush. I've used my usual buffing brushes and makeup sponges to apply it and both ways gives a flawless yet natural looking finish to the skin. I got matched to the shade Nude 05 and I'd say I could've gone a shade lighter, but once I bring it down my neck, it's all good.

It has a yellow undertone to it which I like in a foundation because it cancels out any redness, as you can see below and the big red nose on me in the before photo. This foundation is absolutely beautiful on and it dries to a matte finish but still gives a subtle radiance too. It does a stellar job of keeping oil production at bay thanks to the silica and I barely have to touch it up during the day. It feels really lightweight, it doesn't look cakey and I'm fully into this gals.

On the day, Paula used a couple of other products on me that I'll go into at a later stage, but I wanted to show you the PS... My Perfect Colour Foundation Pressed Powder in the shade Chestnut. It's a measly €2.50 and Paula used this as a bronzer on the day, so I wanted to show it to you as well because it's not something I'd have thought of picking up myself. I'd have just picked it up in my regular shade and I probably will anyway to give it a go, but if you're on the hunt for a budget friendly bronzer/contour that can be used on the eyes too, look no further.

A little goes a long way with this shade so when applying it as a bronzer, make sure to use a nice big fluffy brush so that it doesn't deposit too much colour in one place. And the same goes for when applying it to the eyes. A fluffy brush can be used to both blend and pack the colour on and it works so well on both the face and eyes.

I was going to say if you're on a budget and want to try out some makeup, but stopped myself because even if you're not on a budget, you should definitely check these out. They've got a whole range of foundations to suit different skin types, with different textures too and the most expensive product is €6. As we all say, "Sure where would you be going?!"

The My Perfect Colour range is available in Penneys now, so you know what to do!

Check out my IGTV below to see some of the products in action and let me know if you pick any up!

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@primark.beauty have relaunched their My Perfect Colour range and they’ve only gone and added some new shades and some new products too, making a total of 180 products in the whole collection. I got colour matched at their event recently and fell in love with the products that @paula_callan_makeup used on my face that day, so I decided to try and recreate what she did. I tried Paula, I really did! See the foundation? That’s the PS… My Perfect Colour Matte Foundation and it’s only €4 but I love it over some of my higher end foundations. The finish is gorgeous and it stays put all day. And because I was feeling fancy with the video, I actually used concealer (I rarely do because I’m fierce lazy) but the Ultra Longwear Concealer is nice and lightweight and while it says it gives full coverage, I’d say it’s more on the medium side and it doesn’t dry out the under eye area thanks to the Hyaluronic Acid. I set the concealer with the Luminous Glow Light Reflecting Setting Powder which is really finely milled and a little stunner of a powder. And because I wanted to use all of the products given to me on the day of the event, I went in with a layer of the Loose Mineral Powder. I’m not usually a fan of loose mineral powders as foundations, but I’ll give this a go on its own and report back. But as far as a setting powder on a foundation that doesn’t actually need setting, it’s gorgeous and left me looking airbrushed. On the day of the event, Paula used the Foundation Pressed Powder in shade Chestnut to contour and that’s what I did today too and it makes for a great eyeshadow too. I wanted to complete the face so used this blush from @essence_ireland which is a lovely dusky pink that’s buildable and really wearable. As for the highlight, the formula is lovely but the shade just isn’t for me. It’s too cool toned and I prefer a less blue and more champagne highlight. But you might love it! Thanks for watching! #lovelygirliebits #lovelygirliebits1minutevideo #lovelygirliebitsigtv #budgetbeauty #primarkbeauty #myperfectcolour

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Oct 1, 2019 at 12:34pm PDT

L'Oreal Bambi Eye False Lash Mascara review, before & after photos

2019-10-02T07:30:00.000+01:00

L'Oreal, how do you keep doing it? How are you able to keep bringing out deadly mascaras that tick all of my boxes and make me want to not bother trying anything new for ages.

I present to you the L’Oreal Bambi Eye False Lash mascara aka one of my favourite budget mascaras of 2019 so far. With its plastic bristles that help coat every lash, the formula is perfect, not too dry and not too wet, it's juuuuuust right.

When it comes to mascaras, because I've tried so many over the years, I can usually tell after the first use if I'm going to love it or not. I get impatient if the formula is too wet and needs to dry out a bit over a couple of weeks, and thankfully that wasn't the case with Bambi Eye. One coat is all I've been needing to use on days where I'm not wearing eyeshadow, because any more than that, and the thickness and oomph it gives can look a bit stark on me.

Behold the obligatory one eye with mascara and one eye without! I love the thickness and volume that Bambi Eye gives along with the lift and curl and despite packing my lashes full of product, it doesn't weigh them down and I haven't had any issues with flaking or smudging either.

A freshly dipped wand can apply too much for my bottom lashes, especially if I've no shadow on, so I tend to go wild on the upper lashes and then whatever's left on the brush does onto the lower lashes for a softer look. Now on days where I'm going all out with shadows and liners, I pack on a good two coats for maximum effect!

The before & after photo below shows just one coat and I'm obsessed!

The L'Oreal Bambi Eye False Lash Mascara is out now and at the time of this post going live, it's €14.99 on Boots and there's a special offer on L'Oreal makeup there too!

9 years of Lovely Girlie Bits!

2019-09-30T07:30:00.001+01:00

This time 9 years ago, I bit the bullet and googled "how to start a blog", not knowing for a second that it would change my whole life! And while the blog has taken a back seat thanks to Instagram and YouTube, I'll never stop blogging. I might do it less frequently, but I love this little corner of the internet and it's so nice having a place where nearly 2000 posts sit and where I can see the evolution of my photography!

I'm by no means a blogging pro, or claim to know it all, but I do have a bit of insight for anyone thinking about starting a blog, or a social media account (even if you're doing that, get a blog, people can google that, they can't google Instagram). So as has been my tradition for a few years now, but I've kept it to blogging, here are 9 things I've learned in 9 years of blogging/social media aka, 9 years of Lovely Girlie Bits! PS please ignore the fact that I've posted all of these photos of my mush, pure notions after 9 years on the internet!

1. Evolution is key.

There are so many accounts on Instagram now with so many doing the same thing, that it's important to try and stand out, or make it your own as Simon Cowell would say. Don't be afraid to change it up a bit and experiment with stories, videos, IGTV, grid posts on Instagram and on the blog, try different types of posts to see what works and what doesn't. I get bored posting the same things day in day out, and I get bored watching the same things day in day out too. So try something new, see what happens and if you're not feeling it, that's ok, at least you tried. I'm going to be trying something new in October, something that I started in October last year but never got around to finishing. But I'm going to give it a go and see if there's a place for it here in Lovely Girlie Bits, so stay tuned for that.

2. Listen to your guts.

Much like your hips, your guts don't lie and if a brand approaches you for a collaboration and it doesn't feel right, as nice as the bit of cash would be, listen to your guts. Your audience is smart and they can smell it a mile away if they think you've just taken the job for a few bob. My gut (or guts, I like to say guts) is also a great warning sign for those who mightn't have the best agenda for me and I've rarely been wrong about people, so do yourself a favour, look after your guts, listen to your guts and love your guts because they have your best interests at heart.

3. Mind your mind.

I think since becoming a freelancer last year, my mental health has taken a few hits, but as I've a long history with my mental health, I know the signs and I know what I have to do to look after myself. I've had to take social media detoxes, I've had to take proper breaks away from everything and I've had to mute people on Instagram. And the thing is, it's not about them, they're fab and they're doing their bits. It's about me and how I feel after watching them and my mental health is more important than feeling like I need to watch them to appear supportive. I always encourage people to watch those who make them feel good, who give them a laugh or who inspire or motivate them and while it seems like everyone and their granny has an Instagram account, it's even more important to look after yourself because your phone doesn't lie these days, telling you how long you've been online, so make it a positive experience.

4. Say yes to things and say no to things.

This comes back to the guts thing again and I know I've made the right decision if I've said yes to something scary but fab because the nervous stomach starts. If I've made a mistake and said yes to something that my guts don't agree with, I get that dread, that fear, that "How am I going to get out of this?" feeling, totally not the same as the nervous stomach! Stepping outside of our comfort zone is where the magic happens, so say yes to things. I've said yes to something you'll see happening next week and the nervous stomach is real gals, not able....

And to go alongside that, say no to things that don't feed your soul, that you know you're going to regret and if you don't know it, your guts most definitely will. I remember hearing this on a podcast earlier this year and it's stuck. If you find it hard to say no to things, think of it as saying yes to something else. So you might be saying no to going to an event, but you're saying yes to having a cosy night in that's exactly what you've been craving. Saying no to meeting someone who wants to pick your brains means saying yes to getting some of your own work done. Try it!

5. Downtime is vital.

I've learned this so many times over the years and yet I still have a couple of times each year where I burn out and have nothing in the tank. Trying to create a work/life balance in this industry when you work for yourself is difficult, but it's one I'm determined to crack. Because of Instagram, so many of us are accessible 24/7 and so boundaries need to be put in place. It's OK if you don't reply to DMs as soon as they come in, or if you haven't quite finished a blog post because you can't get back in the flow. I've learned how to take time away from the internet and not feel guilty about it but I tell ya, it's taken many years for that to happen! This post should've gone live last week, but as I was having "annual leave", I was super strict and said to myself that it could wait. I went through a phase of listening to Gary Vee last year and he was all about working every hour of every day and sleeping for 5 minutes and I got caught up in that. I ended up being so exhausted that my productivity went downhill, my panic and guilt spiked because I wasn't getting "enough" done, and it was taking me ages to actually finish anything. This is something I'm actively working on all the time, but I'm getting there.

6. Never stop learning.

Right now I'm learning how to work my camera settings properly (I don't think I'll ever fully get to grips with them!) because I want to learn new techniques. I can take a mean product shot for Instagram, but I want to learn how to take photos of people and then I'll move on to landscapes. I'm taking a couple of courses on Skillshare on how to edit photos and I'm working on a new project too, trying to learn how it all works. I love playing with new apps to see how I can incorporate them into my content or the content for the social accounts I look after. And that keeps things interesting for me. If I was to do what I've always done, there'd be no Youtube channel, no one minute videos, no experimenting with photographs. So stick on a podcast and try something new this weekend!

7. Invest in your craft and in yourself.

I'm not saying you need the fanciest equipment or need to spend a fortune on tech, but there's a lot to be said for a bit of a google. Take advantage of all of the free knowledge that's already out there. I wanted to learn a video technique a few months ago, and searched on YouTube for the answer, watching it, pausing it at the points where I needed to do it myself and I did it! I download at least 10 apps a week to test out and then delete the ones I don't think I'll get any use out of before buying the ones I think are useful. Get yourself some new props or backdrops for your blog photos, or get some lighting or a new tripod. Invest in a new blog template or commission someone to create a new logo for you. Right now, I've got a new camera lens on my wish list along with a different type of tripod that I think would make life easier for me. I love getting new tech!

8. Surround yourself with those who push you and who inspire you.

Recently I helped my pal Jen out with a collaboration she was doing and we spent half the day experimenting with filming, taking photos, making our vision a reality and I absolutely loved it. She said she needed me for an hour and a half and yet 4.5 hours later and we were still doing our bits, but it was deadly! I love watching people on Instagram or Youtube who are being productive and getting their stuff done and it inspires me to get off my bum and get my own stuff done. When I have my wobbles and bouts of self doubt, I have a gang of women who have my back, who see when I'm struggling (I'm a hoor at asking for help), and who know just the right things to say to me to help me feel better. One of my favourite things is to sit down with a blogging pal and have a brainstorming session together. We always come away feeling inspired and ready to try something new!

9. Enjoy it!

There are parts of freelancing I don't enjoy, but they're far outweighed by the positives. It's so easy to take it all seriously and obsess about numbers and analytics, but that can take the craic out of it, and it's only blogging and in my niche, it's only makeup. If you're not enjoying something, try something new, or head to Pinterest and find inspiration there. Find people who share your passion, don't take it too seriously, stay away from those pages, you know the ones I mean, and enjoy building your little corner of the internet!

Thanks to everyone who's come along for the ride here at Lovely Girlie Bits! You're the best!

Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayons review, photos

2019-09-11T07:30:00.000+01:00

Ah Maybelline, just when I thought I was over matte lips, you only go and bring out the SuperStay Ink Crayons! I feel like these were made for someone like me. Someone who doesn't always line their lips, who is fond of a more moisturising matte lip and someone who likes when the packaging shows the colour inside. I'm a simple creature and don't expect much, but these babies over deliver and it's been true love since they were sent to me to test out. At least two of them are in my handbag at all times and you're going to see why.

There are twelve shades in the collection, ranging from wearable nudes to bright pinks, reds and deeper shades too. I was sent three to play with and I've been hard pressed to pick a favourite from the bunch. The packaging is lightweight and slim and there's a little sharpener in the end to keep the crayon nice and pointy if you want to use it to line and fill the lips in. With brighter shades like these, lining is a must for me and it helps reshape my lips and keep everything looking nice and crisp and even. Now I'm singing Good King Wenceslas. As are you. You're welcome.

I've found that I get a good 2-3 hours out of these before needing to reapply and while they're so comfortable to wear, there is movement because they don't set. I'd much prefer that than having something that dries down and leaves me with crispy lips. That ain't cute.

Seek Adventure

Seek Adventure was a big old surprise for me because you might know that I don't usually reach for brighter pinks like this one. But I love it on and think it lifts my complexion and it's a step outside of my comfort zone and that's always a good thing.

Stay Exceptional

If you love a dusky pink, then Stay Exceptional is for you. I'm fully committed to this shade and feel like it's fierce sophisticated, like myself, and goes with so many looks. You know how I was just saying above there about stepping outside of my comfort zone? Yeah I'm also very much happy right in the centre of my comfort zone thanks to this shade.

Hustle in Heels

I don't really wear heels because the absolute effort of life, but boy do I hustle and Hustle in Heels makes me feel powerful, like a grown up, like someone who has fancy pyjamas instead Harry Potter ones. It's the most gorgeous shade of red and I love it.

And because of these three shades, I want to try more. I know. Do I need more lip products? No. Am I going to stop buying them? Also no.

If you're on the hunt for a new lip product this month, do yourself a favour and check these out. They're €14.99 and are well worth it in my opinion. Which of these three shades is your favourite?

AD - My travel finds from The Loop!

2019-08-19T20:23:00.001+01:00

Does your holiday really start if you haven't had a look in The Loop? You see, a lot of people like to arrive to the airport early to make sure they won't miss their flight. I like to arrive extra early to have ample time to wander around the Duty Free in Dublin Airport. It's when and where my holidays start and I always have to pick up a few bits to start my trip off as it means to go on! Now, if you're on a tight turnaround in the airport, you can shop ahead of time with The Loop and choose your terminal, your date and you can buy online and pick it up in the airport! As long as your order is made at least 12 hours before your flight time, you're good to go.

I'm insanely excited and proud to be working with The Loop on this post to show you what I picked up on the way to France last month and what other products are available in Dublin Airport in Terminal 1. Terminal 2, I have my eye on you next month!

This Face Kit in Warm from MAC immediately caught my eye and I thought it would be a great gift for someone (or yourself) because it's got your couple of eyeshadows, a liner, mascara, lip liner and lipstick. It's been a while since I've been tempted by anything from MAC but this set intrigued me and at €54, it's great value. There's a Cool version too that I think I'm going to get next time I'm in the airport.

You can see it in action in the video below.

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Tonight’s video features one of the products that made me go “Ooh” when I saw it in @theloopdutyfree 😍😯 MAC has two Travel Exclusive Face Kits and for €54, you get a heap of products for your eyes and lips! This set, the Warm one, features a Lipstick in Kinda Sexy, Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare, Technakohl Liner in Graphblack, In Extreme Dimension Lash, and Eye Shadows in Honey Lust and Soba. The Cool set, which I will be picking up when I go away in September, has a Lipstick in Mehr, Lip Pencil in Soar, Technakohl Liner in Brownborder, In Extreme Dimension Lash, and Eye Shadows in Soft Brown and Mulch. Are you able? For I am not my friends. I love how this look turned out and if you wanted to treat yourself, or a pal, or yourself AND a pal, then this is so worth checking out. And for those interested in how I fixed my scaldy brows, I used one of my favourite brow products, the Urban Decay Brow Beater in Taupe which is just €16.50 in The Loop. #lovelygirliebits #sp #theloopdutyfree

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Jul 22, 2019 at 12:31pm PDT

Now, when perusing The Loop, I have a method to my madness when it comes to shopping. I like to grab a basket, place in said basket all of the things I like and then whittle them down. Except this time I couldn't whittle because I felt compelled to get all the bits. Some of the products were bought on my last trip, some were bought in May and some I got myself but are available in The Loop.

The Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint is one of my favourite purchases of the summer and while they didn't have my shade in stock back in May, you might be luckier than me and be able to get it in The Loop and save a few bob.

I'm a huge fan of Estee Lauder Double Wear and figured it was the perfect time to replace my empty bottle. Fans of a full coverage foundation that does not budge at all will love it. Applied with a makeup sponge, it gives me a truly flawless finish and survives all the sweats. All of them. We're talking squirting sweat out of my forehead.

I've been hearing about Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel for years now and for me, the hype is real... This is ideal for keeping the summer glow alive girls and I'm raging I didn't think to pick it up in The Loop back in May! But lots of my makeup loving pals have treated themselves to it in the airport over the summer.

If you're a fan of a cream blush, and even if you're not, the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges are among the best I've tried and if you love a really natural, skin like blush, look no further gals. Calypso Coral is my jam and this is my second pot. You can use it on your lips and cheeks, making it doubly versatile and a sin not to pick up.

I bought the Tom Ford Radiant Perfecting Powder in Gilt Glow when I was going to Spain in May so I'm not sure if they'll still have it, but listen, if you're feeling fancy and want to treat yo'self to anything Tom Ford, sure you might as well do it in The Loop and save yourself a few euro. Which will no doubt be spent on more makeup bits.

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This is a pinch me moment gals as I’m working with @theloopdutyfree to show you just some of what you can pick up when heading away! Those of you who know me will already know that for me, my holidays begin once I get to The Loop and I always have to treat myself to a few bits. And while my collaboration was for just one video, there are so many things I want to show you and that I think you’d love, that I filmed three. I know. I’ll roll them out over this week so if you’re heading away soon, it might give you a bit of inspiration station across the nation if you want to pick up a few bits. They had so many new products, some of which were airport exclusives, so make sure to head to my stories to see them too. But it’s time for a demo video! Some of these products were bought on the way to France, some I got going to Spain in May, and some I already had in my collection but are available in The Loop. Products used Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint - Medium Light - I’ve waffled so much about this since I got it in May and I still use it so much. It makes for the perfect base, can be worn on its own on no makeup makeup days and feels so lightweight on the skin. Estee Lauder Double wear - shade 1N1 Ecru. This is something I’ve had on my list to repurchase for ages now and it’s one of my all time favourite bases, especially in the summer and you want your foundation to stick around all day. It works best on me with a makeup sponge and gives a flawless yet natural looking finish. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel - I’ll just say this. I don’t know how I lived without this and I know that’s fierce dramatic, but it’s ideal for adding warmth to your skin. Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral - this is my second pot of this and it can be used on the cheeks and lips, giving a beautiful flush of colour. It’s one of my summer must haves. Tom Ford Radiant Perfecting Powder in Gilt Glow was a treat to myself when going to Spain in May and I just love the natural finish it gives. And if you’re thinking about picking up some Tom Ford goodies and you’re heading away, then you might as well take advantage of The Loop’s prices! #lovelygirliebits #sp #theloopdutyfree

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Jul 21, 2019 at 12:13pm PDT

Now, on to lip sets and the final video I wanted to show you. I can't remember the last time I bought a MAC Lipstick but in The Loop, they're like busses and three come along! MAC lipsticks are usually €20 in town, but for €43.50, you get these three wearable shades. Now, the sets are labelled wrong on the website, because this set is no more Deep than I am. It has three gorgeous light shades, Twig, Peach Blossom and Honeylove and they're me in lipstick form!

I've not tried much from Bare Minerals at all and I generally start with lipsticks when trying out bits from a brand. The Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick Trio set is €30 and are regularly €20 each, so you're getting them for half price. They're my kind of lipstick in terms of gloss and finish and I love them! You get the shades Kitty, Nudist and XOX in the set.

And for me, no trip to The Loop is complete without picking up one of the Clarins Lip Perfectors and this time I picked the most gorgeous shade of the Instant Light Lips - a more sheer version of the regular Lip Perfectors. Shade 7 is a beautiful dusky pink shade that has been in my handbag since the day I got it.

Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to seeing The Loop in Terminal 2 that's just been finished when I head away next month?! Didn't think so!

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I’m back with my final video in collaboration with @theloopdutyfree to show you some of the travel exclusives and bargains to be had if you’re heading away soon! I’ve a blog post recapping all of my finds from the summer, so head to www.lovelygirliebits.com for more details. MAC have a bunch of these Travel Exclusive lipstick sets and of course I had to pick up the Light version. Nude lip lover for life right here! The set has Twig, Peach Blossom and Honeylove and at €43.50, it’s whopper value. Speaking of whopper value, the Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick set from @baremineralsuk is a nude lipstick lover’s dream with the shades Kitty, Nudist and my favourite, XOX. It’s only €30 and these lipsticks are usually around the €20 mark each. And of course, you know I had to pick up one of the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors and this time I bought Shade 7, a sheer dusky pink that’s been in my handbag since getting it! If you’re going to be in Dublin Airport in the future, do yourself a favour and give yourself an extra half an hour to wander through The Loop because they have some serious bargains. Check out my Highlight to see some other finds! #TheLoopDutyFree #lovelygirliebits #sp

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Aug 19, 2019 at 12:21pm PDT

Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid review, before & after photos!

2019-08-16T16:30:00.000+01:00

As I hurtle towards my next birthday, I'm looking for all the help I can get in keeping my skin looking fresh as a daisy, both with and without makeup. I was really looking forward to putting the new Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid to the test when I heard it was launching and hoped that it would illuminate and firm my skin as the bottle says.

With ingredients including chicory and red jania to give firmer, smoother, more luminous and radiant skin after 28 days (I haven't tested it out for that long gals because I have a heap of foundations to review, but if I get a good run at this, I'll definitely update you!) along with Clarins' Skin Tone Optimizing Complex, my face and I were ready for action. While the before & after photos below were taken today, I've used this about 5-6 times now and from experience, that's enough for me to form an opinion when it comes to foundations.

I was sent two shades, 105 being the closest match to my complexion and it's probably the one I'd have chosen if I went to get colour matched. The foundation has the traditional Clarins scent and while I can't put my finger on what it is exactly, if you like the scent of your usual Clarins base, you're going to love this. I think it smells lovely and it dissipates quickly after application. I've used both a buffing brush and a makeup sponge to apply the Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid and both leave an equally flawless finish.

As you can see in the before and after photo above, two pumps of the foundation gives an even coverage, but it doesn't look like I'm wearing makeup. As in it looks like skin, just skin that's more evened out and it covers the redness beautifully but without looking heavy or cakey.

The finish is just gorgeous. Can you see the absolute radiance on my cheek below? Now with that radiance comes a bit of tackiness, so for oily skinned folk, we might want to powder the centre of our faces, just from a sensation point of view. I don't like the feeling of a wetter (or moist) foundation but in my testing, I've tried this out with and without powder and I have to say, even without powder it lasts a good 5 hours before I feel the need to take down the shine. I did find that it sat in my smile lines a bit, but that's ok, I spend a lot of time laughing and smiling in work, so I ain't mad at it. I would usually powder those bits and when I do, it's grand.

I think if you'd dry skin, you'd love this and if you'd oily, I'd just keep the powder handy for the oil, not for the radiance because the glow is real gals.

Now, the first day I tested it out, I swatched the two shades on the back of my hand, just to get a feel for the texture before deciding how to apply it. Below is shade 108.5 on the left and 105 on the right and that photo is taken about 15-20 minutes after I first applied them.

I'd a feeling that they looked a bit darker compared to when I first applied them so I wanted to do a little experiment to see if they'd oxidised. So I removed half of the swatches for both shades and then applied a small amount of each shade again above the older swatches. There's a decent amount of oxidation (when the foundation comes in contact with oxygen in the air and changes colour), so that's worth noting if you go to get colour matched.

In the photos below, I didn't powder my face or put any bronzer on, I just have the foundation and a bit of blush on the cheeks and the oxidation is less obvious, but it's still there, so I have to make sure to bring the foundation down my neck so that it ends up being the same colour as my face!

But I'm just being picky but also highlight when a foundation oxidises and how it can affect your colour selection. So go get colour matched on your face, let it sit for half an hour while you do your bits and then see if it's still a good colour for you.

The Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid is out now, it's €40 and comes in 40 shades. If you're looking for a natural looking, radiant foundation that is a mix of makeup and skincare, then it's most definitely worth checking out! Watch my Instagram video to see it in action!

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It’s Monday and I’m easing us into it with another This Is Not A Tutorial I was sent the @clarinsofficial Everlasting Youth Fluid last week and while I’ve only worn it a couple of times so far, I think we’re going to get on fabulously. I’m going to review it properly next week as I have some thoughts already, but first impressions are great! Check out the natural finish and gorgeous glow it gives… Full thoughts will be next week. I still love the @flormarireland_uk Bronzing Powder for warming up my complexion and a little goes a long way, so not only will this last for years, but I managed to apply the right amount today! For blush, I picked between two of the new Joli Blushes from Clarins and both of them were made for me! The lighter one is Cheeky Coral and I ended up choosing Cheeky Peach. I love love love these and I’ll talk about them in more detail soon. Keeping things on the Clarins theme, I used one of my all time favourite mascaras, Supra Volume Mascara which gives lots of volume and length. Then I had to choose between two of the new Intense Lip Perfectors from Clarins and I ended up showing them both! The first shade is 17, Intense Maple and it’s my favourite of the two. It’s really wearable and packs a punch in terms of colour payoff. Shade 18 is called Intense Garnet and at first I wasn’t sure about it, but it’s one that takes time to build up to this beautiful jewelled shade. I think I’d use a lip liner with this one to help make things easier and now I want to see what the other two shades from the Intense Lip Perfectors are like! Thanks for watching! #lovelygirliebits #lovelygirliebits1minutevideo #clarinsautumn #naturalmakeuplook #40plusblogger #clarinsireland #everlastingyouthfluid #joliblush #intenselipperfector #clarinsautumnmakeup

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Aug 12, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT

4 travel friendly face palettes to transition into autumn!

2019-08-12T19:00:00.000+01:00

You've taken a notion to book a weekend away, or even an overnight stay somewhere and then the important stuff starts. What products should I bring? Should I bring my fancy shampoos and conditioners or should I hope for the best with the dry shampoo? Will one eyeshadow palette do the job or do I need a selection? And how many nude lipsticks is too much? Is there such a thing?!

It's ok gals because I'm going to help take away some of the stress because I have four face palettes that look after your bronzer/contour, blush and highlight and in most instances, your eyes too. If you're someone who finds whittling down their travel makeup bag a doddle, then this post isn't for you, but for those of us who have been known to pack 7kg of products going on holidays for one week, we need all the help and guidance and non judgement as possible ok bye.

First up is the Luna by Lisa Pearl & Glow palette (€20).

If you love a peach blush with a grand bit of shimmer, you're going to love this. The whole palette has serious colour payoff but I'm telling you, if this blush came in its own pan, I'd be happy out repurchasing it because it's me all over. I'd love for the three pans, the blush, bronzer and highlight to be the same size so I don't feel like I'm rationing the two smaller pans, but I'm totally being picky and I think that's because I tend to only use a light wash of highlight when I'm doing my makeup. The bronzer is lovely and warm, blends like a dream and that highlight is a beautiful champagne shade with a slight pink tone to it. The eyelighter (the swatch on the right below) is pale gold perfection and I've been known to wear that as a highlight on the cheeks and as a wash of colour all over the lid with the bronzer in the crease. The palette has been reduced to €20 now and is well worth picking up.

Watch the video below to see it in action.

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I love a multifunctional beauty product and the Pearl & Glow Face Palette from @lunabylisa is just gorgeous! The bronzer is cool enough to be used as a contour and warm enough to be used as a bronzer. The blush is me in blush form. Peachy and shimmer and glowy and beautiful! As for the highlight, that’s the star of the show and the sheen it leaves on my skin is stunning. The only part of it that I haven’t used as much is the eyelighter and that’s just because I forget 🙈 I don’t use shimmery shades on my brow bone but like using them on the inner corner (when I think of it). It’s available now and is well worth the €30 in my opinion. Stick it on your Christmas wish list wha! Tag your pal who needs a little nudge for gift inspo this year 😂 #lovelygirliebits #lovelygirliebits1minutevideo #lunabylisa #facepalette #christmasgiftguide

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Nov 12, 2018 at 12:12pm PST

The Misslyn Travel Kit All in One Palette in Globetrotter (€16) totally surprised me and I used it for the first time in one of my Instagram videos which you can see below.

The blush and bronzer aren't as pigmented as Luna, but if you're someone (me) who can tend to overapply their product, then something that's lighter and buildable is worth checking out. This palette has the addition of a mattifying powder which is so finely milled and whenever I use it, I watch it blur my face right before my eyes. It's a deadly palette and the only thing I'd change is for it to have one lid for all four products rather than having the two. It makes it a bit more faffy when trying to use the powder because I generally hold the palette in my left hand when doing my makeup and can't keep the lid open.

See the Misslyn palette in action below.

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Tonight’s This Is Not A Tutorial features some new products tried for the first time on camera and if there’s anything you want a more in depth review of, let me know! The Vichy Mineralblend in Shade 01 gives a gorgeous glow to the skin with light to medium coverage. I can’t wait to give it a proper go over the next little while and will report back! The Misslyn Travel Kit is one of the handiest products I’ve tried in a while with its bronzer, blush, highlight and setting powder, all for €13.95. It’s fab! I am obsessed with the Kiko Super Colour Waterproof Eyeliners and the shade 116 is my favourite thing I bought when I was in Spain. I can do a proper flick with these guys and now I want more shades! My Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara will come as no surprise to those who have been here for a while and it’s one of my all time favourites. And for the lips, I wanted to show the Clarins Joli Rouge Lacquers in action after being sent four of them. I applied them in the following order: 705L Soft Berry 757L Nude Brick (my fave of the four) 760L Pink Cranberry 762L Pop Pink Thanks for watching!

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Jun 30, 2019 at 12:21pm PDT

The SoSu by SJ Sunset Glow Palette (€12.95) is for the bronze goddesses out there and if you love a gold highlight, then look no further. It's a stunner and is the cheapest of the four.

The blush has more pink in it than the previous two but still leans on the peach side and the bronzer gives the most beautiful sheen to the skin and warms up my complexion in seconds. This is the smallest of the palettes here so it's perfect for keeping in the handbag and the bronzer in the crease and highlight on the centre of the eye means that it's versatile it's fierce handy. That highlight is like butter on the skin and if you're looking for a solid no fuss palette that doesn't take up much space in the handbag, then this is worth checking out.

Watch the video below to see the Sunset Trio palette in action!

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Oh what’s that, another ridey summer face that took me minutes to do?! Tonight’s This Is Not A Tutorial features a heap of new products that I got sent by @thebeautybasketie recently for a job and while the collaboration is over, I still wanted to film a video and show them in action (PS I still have a discount code with them if you want 15% off 😜 it’s KAREN15 ) (not an affiliate, not an ad, just saving you a few bob!) Back to the products at hand and yes, I love me a natural glowy bronzey look that takes minimal effort 😍 The gorge @sarahkearymakeup sent me her 9 Piece Professional Make-Up Brush Set when I was away on holidays and it literally contains every brush you’d need for a full face and comes in a really handy case. Tis only fab 😍 I started by using the Foundation Brush to work my @sculptedbyaimee Beauty Base into my skin and this is just beautiful on. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tacky or anything, just nice and radiant and ready for the foundation. I used the same brush to apply the new @flormarireland_uk HD Invisible Cover Foundation which sits beautifully on my skin before going in with the @flormarireland_uk Contour & Conceal Stick in Medium, buffing it in with the Contour Brush. I love an aul cream contour and this one blends easily into the skin. I needed a little somethin’ somethin’ on the cheeks so applied the blush from the @sosu_bysuzannejackson Sunset Trio Palette with the Powder Brush and then used the same brush to apply the highlight from the same palette. That’s such a whopper palette for travelling bridies. To finish the look, I dusted a small amount of the @flormarireland_uk Invisible Loose Powder to the centre of my face and any parts that tend to get oilier in the summer and I was good to go! Thanks so much for watching! #lovelygirliebits #lovelygirliebits1minutevideo #flormar #sarahkearymakeup #sosubysj #budgetbeauty #beautybasket #summermakeup #40plusblogger

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Jun 5, 2019 at 12:45pm PDT

Finally we have the SoSu by SJ x Rosie Connolly Radiant Magic palette (€29.95) the newest to join my collection.

This has the most shades of the four with two bronzers, two blushes and two highlights. I've done a YouTube video showing it in action that I'll link below but this is such a well thought out and versatile palette that I've been wearing on the face and eyes and see that shade Cinnamon? That's a really close dupe for Urban Decay's Riff which is one of my all time favourite shadows ever. If you watch the video you'll see that I was very pleasantly surprised with the pink blush and you might know I rarely wear pinks but this is stunning!

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If you want to see my full review of the Radiant Magic palette by @rosieconxxx @sosubysj then head over to my YouTube where it has all of the details and I share my thoughts on it! Until then, let this mini video whet your whistle! Products used: @fentybeauty Pro Filt’r Primer @fentybeauty Pro Filt’r Foundation Shade 145 Lancôme Long Time No Shine Translucent Powder Radiant Magic palette Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Glowing Jen Thanks for watching!

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Aug 5, 2019 at 12:09pm PDT

Thanks to my work pal Kim for inspiring me to do this post. She messaged me the day before her holiday asking which of the palettes I'd recommend so that led to an in-depth Whatsapp chat where I sent her photos of the swatches and all. I'm fierce kind what can I say.

What's your favourite face palette at the moment?

Eight summer fragrances to help beat the heat!

2019-07-22T19:00:00.000+01:00

In the summer, I'm rarely without a bottle or two of perfumes in my handbag, because there's nothing better than being roasting and feeling gross, only to change everything with a few spritzes of my favourite scent.

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom €54/30 mls

This is a must have for me and as I'm on my third bottle now, this is true love all year round, but mostly in the summer. If you love really clean, powdery smelling scents, then this is worth checking out and on days where I've been running around like a mad thing, or when I've made bad clothing choices and have roasted so much, a couple of spritzes of this and all is well in the world again. It helps me feel refreshed, uplifted and I can't be without it.

Rituals The Ritual of Dao Bed and Body Mist - €17.50/50ml

Some day I'll stop harping on about this fragrance. Today is not that day. This is in my handbag at the moment and was part of a gift set that Rituals gave me before Christmas. I'd been saving it for when the days got hot and I needed help cooling down. I've been lashing it on like a good thing on the heavy, muggy days and the soothing floral scent instantly gives me that much needed pick me up on clammy days, on sunny days, you name it! As I've mentioned before, this is my favourite product from Rituals from my favourite range and when I finish this bottle, I'll be buying another one. I wore it on Joanne and Will's wedding day when I was running around like a mad thing and I can't be without it. Obsessed.

Poppi & Pearl Velvet Rose & Oud - €14.95/100ml

This is a summer evening scent to me. It's floral, woody and musky, but without being too heavy. It kind of has Turkish Delight vibes but isn't too sweet. In saying that though, I prefer lighter, fresher notes during the day. But if you're heading out this summer and those summer days turn into summer nights, the nights where the sunsets are whopper, the drinks are flowing and before you know it, it's bright again, then this is the perfume for you. It's the most affordable of the bunch too and has made me want to try the rest of the range.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino - €188/50mls

This is my fancy perfume and it was a present from Joanne and Will from a couple of years ago. This smells like summer to me. Fancy summer. A summer where I'm swanning around the place wearing floaty clothes, (maybe a couple of items are white because in this fancy parallel universe, I don't spill), my hair is beachy and tousled, not stuck to the back of my neck, I'm able to drink more than one Aperol spritzes without feeling scuttered, and this is all made possible in my imagination thanks to this perfume. Yes there are a few similar dupes of this out there, but there's something special about the packaging and the luxury of it and yes, I'm totally rationing it out. If you love your citrusy, holiday-y fragrances, you're going to love this and I am going to make this last years!

Nuxe Delicious Fragrant Water €32/100ml

Nuxe = summer. And that's a fact. The Nuxe Delicious Fragrant Water is beachy and tropical and if you want to be transported instantly to an island far far away, then this is your only man. It has notes of orange, coconut and tiare flowers with vanilla and musk in the background, all combining to smell like holidays. This is my second bottle of the stuff and if you love light summery scents that you can wear all day, then check this out and thank me later. I have since brought this bottle into the office and we're all smelling gorgeous, gorgeous I tell you!

L'Occitane Verbena Sorbet €52/100ml

The L'Occitane Verbena Sorbet is described as a unisex fragrance that mixes the bright lime and grapefruit notes with mint and verbena, giving a truly refreshing hit when things are feeling clammy. I prefer this over the regular verbena scents which smell pure lemony to me and I love how the mint helps cool me down, without being too overpowering or sweet. This is like a cool shower on a sweaty hot muggy day and I'm loving it!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau So Sweet €56/30ml

Daisy Love Eau So Sweet from Marc Jacobs is aimed at those who love sweet, light scents while I don't tend to go for sweeter smelling perfumes, this has enough floral notes to stop it from me feeling like I'm ready to attract all the bees. It has top notes including raspberry and bergamot, a heart of daisy tree petals and jasmine milk and a base of sugar mask and white iris woods. It's one of my favourite Daisy fragrances to have been launched in a while and while it's a gorgeous fragrance, it's the one I've been reaching for the least, just because the bottle isn't handy for me to pop in my bag. So it's definitely one for the vanity for me, but is well worth remembering to apply before you head out!

Atelier Cologne Pacific Lime €110/100ml

The Atelier Cologne Pacific Lime is for those of us who love our citrusy scents. This one has notes of coconut too, so not only do I get the mood boosting effect of lime, but the coconut makes me feel like I'm on holidays when in fact I'm standing on a Dart where nobody, not one person, has thought to open the window. Thankfully this has hints of mint as well to help cool me down. A 100ml bottle will set you back €110 and 200mls is €165 while the handbag friendly one I have is €60 for 30mls.

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 2 collection, review & swatches!

2019-06-19T07:30:00.000+01:00

Press Sample/Affiliate Links

Sometimes, when I've nothing else to be doing, I like to think about what it would be like to have a lipstick named after me. What would she look like? What would she be called? Would she be glossy or matte? And would I be able to use a swipe up link to sell it? #affiliate #ad #sp #wishfulthinking

While that will never happen, I've got the Hot Lips 2 collection from Charlotte Tilbury to distract me and keep me busy. Inspired by 11 incredible icons, none of which are me, Charlotte has created a whopper collection with some nudes, neutrals and some packing a bit more of a punch. Charlotte has teamed up with Women for Women International and has pledged £1,000,000 from the Hot Lips 2 sales to this charity.

I've got a lot of photos to show you and have a video at the bottom of the post showing all of the shades in action on my lips and on my hand, hopefully helping you decide which of the shades might be the one! Some of the lipsticks have the KISSING formulas while others have the Matte Revolution formulas. All feel dreamy and creamy on, some are more glossy while others have a more matte finish, but none are drying or cakes. Let's get stuck in shall we?

Dancefloor Princess was inspired by Kylie Minogue and is described as being a pretty, cool-girl pink. I must not be cool because I think this is a bit pale for my complexion, but it's really comfortable on and is one for those who love their nudey pinks.

Angel Alessandra is one for the peachy nude lovers and is lovely and warm on me. I think it would look better on me with a tan or a bit more bronzer, but no matter what, I'll never look remotely like Alessandra Ambrosio, but that's ok.

I'm in love with In Love With Olivia. Inspired by Olivia Palermo, this is a really flattering pink to wear. It's got elements of mauve and has a dusky hint to it, and it's one of my favourites.

If you're after something a bit more daring, channel your inner Susan Sarandon, and rock Red Hot Susan. This is wonderfully opaque, feels lovely on the lips and is a great one for red lovers this summer.

JK Magic is described as a nude-rose lipstick, but on me, it's just nude. Nudey McNuderson wingardium leviosaaaa. It looks paler in real life compared to the photo below and I think it's a shade I'd have to wear with a liner, just to give my lips a birra definition. But I love the creamy finish on it so I do. PS It's totally inspired by JK Rowling in case you didn't get it.

I'm being very gracious here when I say that I don't hold it against Sofia Vergara for marrying my future husband Joe Manganiello. Her lipstick, Viva La Vergara is a grand shade of wine and will be rocking my world in the autumn no doubt. But is she really happy with Joe, that's what I want to know.

Carina's Star is inspired by Hong Kong actress Carina Lau and even though I don't know who she is, I think we could be pals because she has great taste in lipsticks. This shade is a wearable and not too in your face peachy coral that was made for me.

Glowing Jen was inspired by Rachel Green. Or Jennifer Aniston, whichever. I think it's my favourite of the whole collection because it's a wearable tawny rosey browny shade that's really hard to describe but will be a permanent fixture in my handbag.

I knew I was going to love Amazing Amal, inspired by Amal Clooney, as soon as I saw it in action on Charlotte's instagram feed. It's a shade that instantly makes my eyes look greener and if you love your berry lipsticks, you're going to love this one.

I love that Patsy Red was inspired by Charlotte's Mam and I need to investigate this Patsy some more because she must be great craic if she was turned into a red lip! This is more of a true statement red compared to Red Hot Susan.

As I type out this post, I realise that I never took a photo wearing Enigmatic Edward, inspired by Vogue's Editor in Chief Edward Enninful. It's a hydrating lip conditioner that feels comfortable on and has shea butter, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera in it, everything that my poor scaldy lips need!

And there we have the photos. Click the video below to see me applying each shade to my hand and lips and I talk you through my four favourites from the range. Each of the lipsticks are €35 each and refills are €23 online only.

Which is your favourite?

Four of the best SPFs for the face!

2019-06-18T07:42:00.000+01:00

I know I'm always harping on about wearing SPF every day, but now that it's summer, it's even more important to wear it daily! We will ignore the fact that it's not stopped raining in ages and will hope that summer will appear soon. But even still, on cloudy days we should still be wearing SPF because the UVA rays can still do damage through the clouds. I thought by doing this post, it might keep the hope alive that we will see the sun soon!

With sun screens, both for the face and body, it's important to apply them a good 15 minutes before heading outside. For days where I'm going to be mainly working indoors, I don't tend to reapply but when I'm in Spain, I make sure to reapply my SPF every couple of hours. I have Skin Type I so I'm not going to risk getting burned now (I've done that enough times over the years!)

I brought four sun creams to Spain with me when I was there last month and got to test them out properly in the sun. Speaking of which, remember what it was like to have the sun? Ah good times. I thought with the Junior & Leaving Certs recently, we'd at least have a bit of a reason to be able to enjoy the weather, alas they all had the last laughs on us...

Anyway, here are four SPFs that I tried in Spain last month!

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Shaka Fluid SPF50+ is aimed that those with sensitive skin and promises to be waterproof, sweat-proof and sand-proof too. I'm so not a beach person so I can't say if it's sand-proof, but I think even if I was, I'd still reapply this every couple of hours just to be on the safe side. I love the Anthelios range from La Roche-Posay and have tried out most of them over the years. This one needs to be shaken to mix all of the ingredients up and has a really watery consistency, so make sure not to apply too much into your hands which I did a few times myself. It doesn't leave any white residue on my skin and absorbs quickly enough, but leaves a sheen on my face, so this might be better for those with dry skin types. Or if you're oily like myself, apply a matte primer under your foundation or better yet, just go for a matte foundation and you'll be grand.

Next up is the Clarins Dry Touch Sun Care Cream SPF30. I used both this one and the SFP50 version when I was in Spain and enjoyed the two of them, leaving them with Mam for the rest of her holiday and she loved them too being a Clarins Super Fan! Clarins have launched a whole new sunscreen range this year for the face and body, and are safe for the coral reefs and oceans, with them removing the ingredients that harm them. While the Dry Touch creams didn't quite dry matte on me, they don't leave a white cast on the skin and makeup sits really nicely over them too, but if you're oily, I'd definitely powder over your makeup just to be on the safe side.

This year P20 launched a facial SPF 30 which promises to give up to 10 hours protection. Now, with me, because I've been burned over the years through my very own fault by not putting enough SPF on and not reapplying, out of pure habit, I always reapply my sun protection every few hours when I'm in Spain, especially if I'm going to be out for the day. See I don't trust myself enough to put enough on and then go galavanting for the day, so I can't say if it lasts the 10 hours, but I always recommend if in doubt, lash a bit more on during the day, especially if you've been in the water and have dried your face off with a towel. I've been using it loads here in Ireland and love it because it sinks into the skin quickly, it feels really hydrating on and my makeup goes on perfectly over it.

Finally we have one of my favourites, the Image Skincare Prevention+ SPF 32 Daily Matte Moisturiser. It's been a couple of years since I had my first tube of this and I can't remember how matte it was, but this one definitely felt less matte on my skin when I was in Spain. Here in Ireland it seems to dry down a bit more, but I wanted to make a note of it. This Image SPF is your moisturiser and SPF in one and as well as that, it decreases the damaging effects of the sun thanks to the presence of antioxidants. And because this is a two in one, it's great for those who are trying to condense their makeup bags when going on holidays and they do full sized versions and have a smaller version in a travel set.

Those are just a handful of the SPFs that are on the market at the moment. Check out this post from last year where I went through some more, and whatever you do this summer, make sure to look after your skin in the sun!

Bobbi Brown Summer 2019 review, photos, swatches, video!

2019-06-17T07:30:00.000+01:00

I think the Bobbi Brown Summer 2019 collection is 76% of the reason I'm able to cope with the bad weather we've been having and the complete lack of sunshine. The products are distracting me with their beauty and for that, I'm fierce grateful! I was sent some of the limited edition products, so if you see anything you like, I'd hop on them quickly as they're going to be gone soon.

The first time I opened the Bobbi Brown Infrared palette, I fell in love because these shades were made for me. I will never tire of warm toned eyeshadows and this has a really beautiful range of shades that makes it nice and versatile, thus justifying why it's ok to have another palette like this.

*This post contains affiliate links & press samples*

I hoped the shades would swatch as nicely as they looked and the did. Ooh they big fat did. There's a few mattes in the palette, with the majority of the shades being metallic shimmers that work best on me when applied with the fingers or with a wet brush. They're soft, buttery and a joy to use. And the mattes are just as joyful to use too. If you're looking for an eyeshadow palette for your summer holidays, or if you're not going away this year and need to treat yourself because the sun doesn't exist here in Ireland right now, then you're going to want to check it out.

I mentioned the High Shine Liquid Eyeshadows on Instagram recently and I'm still using them loads. They've got a really runny texture thanks to the water based formula that feels cooling on the eyes when first applied. Make sure to shake these really well before using them and wipe off any excess on the side of the tube before getting stuck in. They take a couple of minutes to fully dry and during that time, it's best not to look up if you've applied them to the lids or else you'll have transfer. Once you remember to shake the tubes to mix up all of the pigment, you'll be grand, but you'll see if you forget to do that, they'll be really sheer and patchy.

In the photo below, from left to right we have shade Copperhead, Gold Fusion and Molten Petal. There's one more shade that I'm sure is equally as wearable as these. Of course Copperhead is my favourite of the three because it's a green eyed girl's dream!

Next up we have the Bronzing Duo in Medium and Santa Barbara. There's a lighter duo too for those with paler complexions.

Even though this is the darker of the duos, it suits my skin tone perfect and that blush? Well that's summer radiance right there. The bronzer is nice and cool toned, perfect for sculpting out some much needed cheekbones for me and the blush has the ideal balance of peach and gold for me.

I filmed a one minute video showing the palette and liquid eyeshadows in action if you fancy taking a look and will show the bronzing duo in an upcoming video! There are some highlights in the collection too that I need to check out, so make sure to have a look next time you're at the counter.

Well played Bobbi Brown, you played a blinder this summer!

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Happy Friday! Today’s This Is Not A Tutorial features some lovely summer eyes and lips - let’s get stuck in! I used the eye brushes from the @sarahkearymakeup Brush Set (Sarah has given me a code for yis lovelygirlybits10 for 10% off and lads the brushes are just gorgeous, so soft 😍 I absolutely love the Infra-Red palette from @bobbibrownuk and have been using it loads since they sent it. The mattes are soft and have great colour payoff and the shimmers pack a punch too once applied with a finger. I wanted to show you the @bobbibrownuk High Shine Liquid Eyeshadow in Copperhead in action as it’s the one I’ve been reaching for the most. Make sure to give the bottle a good shake to mix up the pigment! I apply it from the wand before blending the edges with a brush and fan my eyes to make sure it dries. These are so beautiful on. The mascara is also courtesy of @bobbibrownuk - the Smokey Eye Mascara and it’s one of my all time favourites 😍 I wanted to swatch three of the new lip offerings from @loccitane_uk_ire starting with the Fruity Lip Perfector, a balm that changes colour depending on your lip’s pH and on me it turns a gorgeous light pink. Next was the Fruity Lipstick in Provence Sunset which is an easy to wear pinky peach and these have a lot of moisture to them and slip too, so for a stronger shade like the last one, Red-y to play, you might need a lip liner. These are all in stores now along with other shades too that I need to check out and swatch. Happy Friday and thanks for watching! #lovelygirliebits #lovelygirliebits1minutevideo #bobbibrown #loccitane #summermakeup #irishbeautyblogger #40plusblogger

A post shared by Karen Constantine (@lovelygirlybits) on Jun 7, 2019 at 12:36am PDT

Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint Review

2019-06-14T17:00:00.000+01:00

I was on my holidays, I felt like treating myself and I knew the bottle would look lovely in my Spanish photos. I present to you the Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint.

Let me give you my E True Hollywood Story with this. I'd seen it on my pal Simone Scribes' Instagram page, mentally added it to my list, forgot about it and then remembered it again when I was in The Loop Duty Free on the way to Spain. I swatched shade Medium Light on the back of my hand and was instantly intrigued with the texture because it changes so much! First pumped out, it's a really runny liquid, probably thanks to the 70% water content, then when it's blended into the skin with a finger, you can feel the micro-droplets of encapsulated pigments bursting before it bleeds into a lovely light veil on the skin. The Loop didn't have my shade in stock after all that but I ended up getting it in Spain anyway.

I didn't try it until I was back from my holidays and the first time I used it, I dang near lost my sh*t because I used one pump over my giant face and got zero coverage. None. Not even a little bit. Then the realisation set in that I'd spent €48 (that was in Spain, it's €60 here) on 70% water. I filmed a first impressions video and will edit it as soon as I can, but there was a lot of disbelief, rage and then acceptance. After that initial test, I tried using it a couple of different ways, applying it with my fingers, applying it to the back of my hand and then working into the hand with the brush that comes with it before deciding that the best way it works on me is when I apply it directly to the brush and buff it into my skin. That way there's no wastage and mess.

After using it a few times both on its own and under the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation, I have fallen deep and hard for this. Maybe it's old age, but more and more I'm loving looking nice and fresh and embracing my skin. That could totally change at any time, but at the moment, I'm enjoying healthy looking skin and that's what the Water Fresh Tint does for me.

If you're after coverage, this ain't for you. I've been using 2 - 2.5 pumps on my face for each application and it evens out my complexion, hides my redness and makes it look like I'm not wearing makeup and that my skin is just lovely on its own.

On days where I'm wearing this alone, I like to powder down the centre of my face to keep the shine at bay because it's really dewy, so I think those with dry skin types will enjoy wearing it on its own. Us oily gals will need to set it. And I need to powder again by lunch time too. I'm not sure if it's new skincare that I'm using or that this just keeps my skin extra hydrated, but I wanted to flag it with you anyway.

If you fancy treating yourself this summer and want a really natural base, and I mean really natural, then it's definitely worth checking out. Go to the counter and try it for yourself before committing to it because at €60 here in Ireland, you won't want to shell out that amount of cash if it's not what you think it's going to be.

I absolutely love love love it and will finish it this summer no doubt. I don't think I'd wear it in the autumn or winter, but for summer, on days where I want a little somethin' somethin' on the skin, this is rocking my world!